The Secretary got about threefourths of what he bargained for. Third. arguments have been made that this agreement will deny jobs to those in the oil industry currently unemployed. or to unemployed workers from minority groups. who want to be so employed. The facts are that relatively few jobs are at stake in those areas that might be leased if no moratorium were at issue. that unemployment in the oil industry in California is a result of shutin production wells onshore resulting from the glutted market which will get even worse as the Saudi Government carries out its plan to break with the rest of OPEC and increase production. that drilling platforms for those California tracts which have previously been leased are being built in Korea and Japan. under recently awarded contracts. that at least one of the major oil companies presently operating rigs off the California coast is reportedly bringing in foreign undocumented nationals from Spain and the Netherlands to work the rigs illegally. and that the oil industry does not have a good record on minority hiring. In addition. the Reagan administration. over my objection. rescinded the affirmative action requirements for minorityowned businesses contracting with the Government for work on the OCS. Moreover. both the fishing and tourism industries in California. which provide 20 times as many jobs and hire 2 to 4 times the percentage of minority workers. are likely. as they will testify. to be damaged by intensified OCS leasing activities in the restricted areas and the accompanying shoreside industrialization that will inevitable result.
Keywords matched
undocumented