Implementation Will Cause Immediate and Irreparable Harm

The United Steelworkers (USW) today announced that the union has formally requested the District Court of the Virgin Islands to halt the territorial government’s implementation of the so-called “Economic Stability Act of 2011,” which passed the territory’s unicameral legislature earlier this year before a July 7 amendment.

Complaint No: 11-CV-76, filed Tues., July 19, 2011, specifically names territorial Governor John P. de Jongh, Jr.; territorial Finance Commissioner Angel Dawson; and territorial Director of Management and Budget Debra Gottlieb.

USW Staff Rep. Randy Allen said that the territorial government implementing the Stability Act would constitute Breach of Contract, Breach of the Duty of Good Faith and Fair Dealing and would cost each of the union’s members thousands of dollars in lost income, setting wage rates back ten years ... more