US Navy - Adams, Charles

On Guam there is a need for 2000 temporary construction workers permanently. This adversely affects the local workers wage rate because the GDOL advertises for mainland workers at the H2B worker rate without the tax free $350/week housing, food, transportation and medical benefit paid by the employer on Navy projects. Because there is always a need for 2000+ more construction workers on the island than reside here, what the H2B worker will work for becomes the local rate without the tax free room & board. The local workers have to accept the H2B worker rate or not be employed as there are already thousands of H2B workers working for that rate. The Mainland workers aren't willing to come here without room and board at a different standard than the H2B workers and thus the GDOL can say there is a need for H2B workers because everyone on island who is willing to work for H2B wages is working and no one from the mainland will come for that rate. This has negative affect on the local workers wages. If there were no H2B workers the local wages would be at least twice what they are now and then mainland workers might come also. Because there is a permanent requirement for H2B workers the rate that the H2B worker will for becomes the local wage rate which seems wrong to me.