On February 7, 2008 over 50 individuals & representatives of different organizations met to create a NYC - solidarity committee for the teacher's union of Puerto Rico, FMPR (la Federacion de Maestros de Puerto Rico). We are organizing fundraising, media, and outreach committees. Join us!

AN URGENT CALL TO SUPPORT
THE TEACHERS'FEDERATION OF PUERTO RICO AS FEBRUARY NATIONAL STRIKE LOOMS
February 2, 2008

Puerto Rico's teachers and workers are fighting for their rights to free quality public education, to union independence, to freely strike, to democratic representation and against privatization. The government of Puerto Rico, in collaboration with leaders of several U.S. unions, (e.g. the American Federation of Teachers, SEIU, Change To Win) is attempting to destroy the rising militant and effective organizing efforts of the FMPR to improve educational and teaching conditions on the island and to undermine opposition to President Bush's No Child Left Behind, a privatization program on the island.

In January '08, the Puerto Rican government acted to decertify the Teachers Federation of Puerto Rico (FMPR), which represents 42,000 teachers. The FMPR called for a strike vote of its Delegates' Assembly in September 2007 that was overwhelmingly ratified by the membership. The colonial government is using the anti-strike and other anti-labor clauses of Law 45 in its attempts to destroy the democratically elected representative of the teachers. (Law 45 is similar to the New York State Taylor law.) The unconstitutional nature of Law 45 is currently being challenged in the courts by the FMPR.

The FMPR has successfully fought government attempts to squash the voice of teachers and community in decision-making in Puerto Rico's school system. The FMPR effectively seceded in 2006 from American Federation of Teachers which abysmally failed to crusade for better conditions while collecting millions in dues money from Puerto Rican teachers.

The FMPR has a proven track record of defending teachers, students, parents, and community control of the educational process. It has successfully opposed the U.S. federal government's efforts to undermine the rights of Puerto Rican teachers to exercise their judgment in the classroom and in making decisions about instruction according to their needs and within their own context. The FMPR has steadfastly opposed all attempts at privatization fomented by the federal NCLB, inclusive of Charter Schools.