I figured the restrictions on the civilians would have to get lifted soon:
Marine Lt. Gen. Richard Zilmer late Monday lifted restrictions imposed with the “period of reflection” he ordered Feb. 20.
Beginning immediately, all restrictions on civilians connected to the U.S. military on Okinawa and Marine bases in mainland Japan are lifted.
However, a 10 p.m.-to-5 a.m. off-base curfew was imposed on all active-duty servicemembers, according to a Marine Corps Bases Japan press release issued at 10:40 p.m Monday.
It also prohibits active-duty personnel from consuming alcohol at off-base establishments. [Stars & Stripes]
The fact that Japanese citizens married to USFJ servicemembers was being restricted I found to be ridiculous and the restricting of civilian contractors was bound to become an issue as we have seen before in Korea when civilian employees were hit with a restriction and they sued for stand by pay. Shortly there after the USFK commanding General Leon LaPorte lifted the curfew on them.
It is interesting to see the USFK-ization of Okinawa happen. Any bets when a policy for Marines to carry a battle buddy card will be implemented? Or better yet a BAC policy! The Marines also need to appoint an a indiscipline cop to complete the USFK-ization of Okinawa.
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7:43 am on March 5th, 2008 1
How did the civilian workers suit against USFK turn out? Did they get OT pay?
8:15 am on March 5th, 2008 2
As far as I know the suit was dropped because the curfew was lifted on them after they brought action against USFK. Maybe one of the civilian workers involved with the suit at that time can comment on this.
9:45 pm on March 5th, 2008 3
A better question would be asking a USFJ contractor if they tried legal action against their employer and thus got this BS lifted off themselves.
I tested my boss once. He ate my liver with some fava beans and a nice chianti.
12:31 am on March 6th, 2008 4
Mark,
Did you put the lotion on your body?
…or did you get the hose?
3:04 am on March 6th, 2008 5
As a contractor, we sign a few waivers, but this does not prevent us from suing the company for, say, sexual harassment. Besides that we work for the company and they provide the service to the customer, in this case, DOD. I would be surprised if your boss told you that you couldn’t do what you wanted on your personal time. That’s grounds for compensation. I have had bosses strongly suggest that we do not show up on the blotter (not that a contract should invoke SOFA).
A piece of advice to contractors in Korea… Don’t invoke SOFA if you’re arrested. It really screws up your paperwork and your boss will dislike you. Just bow and show reluctance and humility and say you’re sorry (a lot) and this crap that the other guy probably started will be over.
5:52 am on March 6th, 2008 6
ChickenHead, I got hosed.
8:02 am on March 6th, 2008 7
What visa are contractors using here in Korea?
5:31 pm on March 6th, 2008 8
The suit was dismissed and the union’s attorney’s were chided by the judge. The grievance was withdrawn a week before the arbitration hearing. This was all well over a year from when the curfew ended. Bottom line, the union never had a case.
I didn’t like the curfew either. But entitlement to standby pay is based on a clearly defined statutory provision, and there is tons of case law precedent out there. Bottom line, being confined to a place of residence does not in and of itself result in entitlement to standby pay.
And for someone who complains about the myth of No Gun Ri, I wish you would stop promoting the myth that the curfew was lifted because of the grievance. Believe me, those of us involved in defending the grievance had no fear, it was a pathetic joke.
7:16 am on March 7th, 2008 9
John, you don’t think the suit contributed to the reason why LaPorte lifted the curfew on civilians and not soldiers? If not then why did LaPorte lift the curfew for civilians?
7:57 am on March 7th, 2008 10
The curfew was technically lifted prior to the grievance, although 9 USACE employees had submitted a “petition” for standby pay to COL Dombi a couple days prior. And you know how it works, the FRAGO modifying the curfew was well into the staffing process by then–the decision had been made.
I can tell you that no one, including GEN LaPorte, gave a damn about the grievance–the union had no case as a matter of law. I don’t know why the decision was made to lift the curfew at that particular time, but everyone knew it was clearly unpopular and there had been some Congressional inquiries. I participated in briefing LaPorte regarding the grievance and he said the curfew was imposed for force protection reasons and was done in response to credible intelligence regarding a threat. As COCOM it was his responsibility to protect everyone under his command and he would not hesitate to reinstate the curfew anytime it was deemed prudent to do so.
So, I was not privy to the decision on lifting the curfew, but I can definitively state that it had absolutely nothing to do with the grievance. In fact, by withdrawing from arbitration and having the suit dismissed, I suspect USFK will be even more emboldened to utilize a curfew in the future.
10:34 am on March 7th, 2008 11
I’m know what some of the credible threats were at the time and I actually understood why LaPorte implemented the curfew. However, it wasn’t like the credible threats went away and yet he lifted the curfew on civilians anyway. It appears letters to Congress had more effect on lifting the curfew then the grievance from the civilian employees then.