A crucial strike for all working people is now taking place in Puerto Rico! The island's biggest labor union is waging a fight for survival, for free public education and against
the privatization schools. At stake are the universal right to unionize, to collective
bargaining, to strike and workers' rights and the basic right of freedom of expression.
The Teachers' Federation of Puerto Rico (FMPR) has been on strike since February 21, 2008 in a life and death struggle
against the anti-labor and repressive crusade of the colonial government. The
colonial administration of Anibal Acevedo Vilá has been refusing to negotiate for more than 27 months with no contract. With more than 40,000 members, mainly women, the Federation has refused to be intimidated
and is taking a courageous stand for the rights of all.
The government's contempt for teachers, students and parents, as well as for their input in education,
is so extreme that it locked out the teachers throughout the island, as well as hundreds of thousands of students, for two
weeks during April-May 2006. The government, facing a fiscal crisis, was forcing the public sectors to endure the brunt of
the crisis.
Now SEIU chief Dennis Rivera helped get Puerto Rico
teachers union ousted so he could hijack members. While the clash between the teachers' militant leaders and the government
was grabbing the headlines, Rivera was maneuvering to snatch control of the teachers for his Service Employees International Union. Puerto
Rico Governor Acevedo Vilá's Secretary of Education, Aragunde, has ruled that the federation will not be permitted to run
in any new elections for a union to represent the teachers.
More than support statements are needed! As support grows among workers, union members
and independent unions in Puerto Rico and internationally, our support NOW will make a difference!! With growing potential
for other unions in Puerto Rico to walk out in solidarity, public pressure greatly intensifies on the anti-worker union-busting
administration in Puerto Rico. Already, the colonial government faces a social
and political crisis, as the school strike affects every part of the island. Solidarity actions by workers everywhere in support
of the Puerto Rican teachers are crucial.
JOIN
US IN SUPPORT OF PUERTO RICO'S TEACHERS AND IN DEFENSE
OF PUBLIC EDUCATION!
DEMONSTRATE
YOUR SOLIDARITY!!
Tuesday,
March 4, 2008
Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration offices
475
Park Avenue South at 32 Street, Manhattan
5pm
