Considering that the current political environment is hostile towards the working class, the Trade union coalitionwhich groups a little more than 30 labor organizations, called on Monday workers in all economic sectors, including those who work on their own, so that they join, on May 1, to the demonstration for the International Workers Dayunder the motto “For a Puerto Rico of the working class.”
The union coalition, consolidated on May 1, also denounced the alleged lack of cooperation, with the labor movement, of the government of Jennifer Gonzálezto which, he said, they have presented proposals and have requested meetings without obtaining results.
“Do not incorporate those proposals and come with a vision that economic development is dictated by the private sector, then is excluding the essence of economic development, which are workers”, Said the president of the Puerto Rican Central of Workers (CPT), Emilio Nieves Torres.
The union organizations also claimed salary justice, and denounced the dilation in collective bargaining, increases in the cost of education at the University of Puerto Rico and in health services and the privatization of essential services.
“May 1 is the space to reject the policies imposed by the president of the United States, Donald Trumpthe Trumpist Government of Jennifer González, together with its Business Alliance, and the Fiscal Control Board, ”established the vice president of the Federation of Masters and Teachers of Puerto Rico, Miguel Rivera.
It was not possible to obtain comments from the fortress.
The activity of May 1 will begin, at 8:00 am, on Dr. José N. Gándara Avenue, between the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras, and the Ramón Vila Mayo School, as public education is one of the spaces most affected by budget cuts and privatization attempts, according to the president of the Puerto Rican Association of University Teachers, María del Mar Rosa Rodríguez.
At 10:00 am, the march will start along Juan Ponce de León Avenue to the headquarters of the Department of Labor and Human Resources, in Hato Rey. From there, “we will listen to the workers of the private sector and federal areas announcing actions aimed at rescuing the labor nature of the Department of Labor and Human Resources,” said the president of the Union of Workers of the Ponce Liquor Industry, Ponce, Rafael Gonzálezreferring that the agency has allegedly put employers as a priority to employees.
The march will end in front of the offices of the Fiscal Supervision Board, on Luis Muñoz Rivera Avenue, in Hato Rey.
The president of the General Union of Workers, Edwin MéndezHe summarized that the trade union coalition requires the government to listen and take into account workers.
“The Government of Puerto Rico, if it will govern for all Puerto Ricans, has to listen to the working classwhich seeks to boost the economic development that respects the principle of labor justice, ”said Méndez.
