CUNY Professors Support PR Teachers' Strike

The Professional Staff Congress -- representing the 20,000 faculty and staff at the City University of New York, the largest urban public university in the United States -- voted unanimously at its Delegate Assembly tonight to back the Puerto Rican teachers strike and "participate in strike support and solidarity efforts on behalf of the striking teachers of the FMPR" (Puerto Rican Teachers Federation).

The motion also denounces the measures against the teachers of Utuado, "condemns this campaign against labor rights and the attacks on the integrity of public education" waged by the government of Puerto Rico, calls for decertification of the union to be annulled once and for all, and demands "an end to police repression" against the strikers and that no charges be made against those arrested.

$651 was collected to send to the FMPR strike defense fund.

In discussion that included eyewitness reports from two PSC members, delegates vowed to redouble strike support efforts. In the days leading up to tonight's meeting, FMPR support activities were held on four CUNY campuses: Hunter College, Queens College, Brooklyn College and Bronx Community College. It was also noted that our colleague Jose A. Laguarta, former co-chair of the Latino & Latin American Students Association (AELLA) at the CUNY Graduate Center, was one of those arrested for defending the picket lines, and that the notorious police "Fuerza de Choque" (Shock Force) is being used against the strikers.

A large presence of PSC members, CUNY students and others should be mobilized for the solidarity rally that the FMPR Support Committee of New York will hold this coming Tuesday, March 4 at 5 PM in front of the Puerto Rican government offices at 475 Park Avenue South (near the corner of 32nd Street).