NotiPR :: That's All Folks! :: Kim Siekmann's Puerto Rico

1.21.05

Kim Siekmann's Puerto Rico

By Keith W. Tyras Romanello 2004: 10.22 10.29 11.5 11.12 11.19 11.26 12.3 12.10 12.17 12.24 12.31

2005: 1.7 1.14 1.28 2.4 2.11 2.18 2.25 3.4 3.11 3.18 3.25 4.1 4.8 4.15 4.22 4.29 5.6 5.13 5.20 5.27 6.3 6.10 6.17 6.24 7.1 7.8 7.15 7.22 7.29 8.5 8.12 8.19 8.26 9.2

This past Tuesday I was reading Sun-Sentinel.com -- like I do every day -- and when I came across the following letter from one of their readers named Kim Siekmann, I wasn't at all surprised by the comments, but I was surprised that the newspaper printed those comments. I was unable to find the actual article that Kim was responding to.

For as long as I can remember, Puerto Rico has rarely been represented in the media in an accurate way. For as long as I can remember, Puerto Rico has had a public relations problem -- with the general public. Everyone understands that Puerto Rico is one of the world's premiere tourist destinations -- but beyond the beautiful beaches, etc., Puerto Rico is many times, very much misunderstood.

The following letter shows the anger that some have when fellow Americans are paid a fair wage for performing a job in an excellent manner. The last time I checked, a job that pays $15. per hour is good, but it is not a salary that anyone will get rich on or be able to retire early on.

For some reason, the fact that Pfizer is operating in Puerto Rico and paying a fair wage is something that, at least to this person, is unacceptable. I'm not exactly certain if the reader is a man or woman since the name Kim is a common name for both -- but I am fairly certain Kim is not Puerto Rican.

Here's the original letter in its entirety . . .

« Posted: January 18, 2005

Pfizer Wages

Was it just me or did anyone else read the article about Pfizer Labs paying employees in Puerto Rico $15 per hour, and think this was absurd?

Why, oh why is Pfizer manufacturing in Puerto Rico and not the mainland USA? Last time I checked, $15 per hour was a really good wage here.

Is it any wonder we pay so much for drugs, when they are paying the wages they are paying?

Kim Siekmann
Pompano Beach

Comments: letters@sun-sentinel.com »

Well, that's all folks! Until next Friday.

Keith

For motivational speeches, conferences, media requests and other things such as eating disorders, you'll have to contact someone else. My only qualifications for writing a weekly column are based solely upon having a lot of free time, unlimited Internet access and very little else.