Today is Day of Protest Against Draconian Job Cuts and Cancellation
of Collective Bargaining Rights
AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka Sends Letter of Support   

(Washington, DC) – On Thursday, October 15th, America's workers will stand in solidarity with their Puerto Rican brothers and sisters against draconian budget cuts and cancellation of their collective bargaining rights.  As 200,000 people march in San Juan, Puerto Rico against Gov. Luis Fortuño's plan to slash the budget deficit on the backs of workers, AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka has sent a letter of support and solidarity rallies will be held in New York, Chicago, Philadelphia and other cities.  

Working families throughout Puerto Rico and America are calling on Governor Fortuño to restore the collective bargaining rights he eliminated under Public Law 7, restitute those he already fired and retract his announced job cuts. 

The Governor has been given $5 billion through the economic stimulus act the protestors say should be used to help workers and the Puerto Rican economy instead of for layoffs.  Working families have also called on the Governor to open a channel for a dialogue because additional discretionary stimulus dollars for Puerto Rico cannot be justified unless and until his administration rethinks its proposed policies.     

Full text of President Trumka's Letter: 

October 15, 2009 

Dear Sisters and Brothers,  

I write to you to express warm fraternal greetings from the 11 and a half million members of the AFL-CIO.  But, most importantly, I send a message of Solidarity with the workers and the people of Puerto Rico.

I am sorry I could not be there in person with you today, but you can be assured that we are fully aware of the attacks being afflicted on the workers and their families on your island and we will do whatever we can to stop them.  We are completely committed to bringing the full force of the AFL-CIO to fighting for the rights and well being of our affiliated unions, their members, and the people of Puerto Rico. 

Today, many thousands of our members in the streets, standing side by side with a broad and diverse cross section of Puerto Rico, raising our voices together, in order that we are heard from the Governor's mansion all the way to the White House in Washington, DC. 

At times like these – and especially at times like these - the people of Puerto Rico need a strong public sector, not a weaker one.  We need the Government to step in and push the economy forward, not further weaken it.  Laying off public servants, particularly at the scale that the Governor is planning, is not only anti-worker, it will set back national efforts towards an economic recovery. 

Privatization of public services is further compounding the attack on workers and the broader public.  Lay-offs and privatization are the wrong prescription for what ails Puerto Rico.  But we know deep down that this is a question of politics and power. 

Nothing demonstrates this more clearly than the suspension of Collective Bargaining under Law #7.  There is no legitimate economic reason for taking away the voice of Puerto Rico's public servants.  This is an attempt to silence the democratic voice of people who are opposed to the destruction of public services. 

But there is just one problem that the Governor did not foresee.  It is clear that the workers and the public of Puerto Rico will not allow the Governor to impose his will without a fight. 

We stand with you against lay-offs.  We stand with you against privatization.  And we will use all our power to protect your democratic right to bargain collectively.  

Thank you Sisters and Brothers and keep up the fight knowing that you are not alone.  

Contact: National AFL-CIO - Eddie Vale - 202-637-5018
Puerto Rico - AFL-CIO - Bernardo Lopez - 787-479-4876