Court drops contempt request after UPR, Workers’ Union agree on campus access
By THE STAR STAFF
The Puerto Rico Court of First Instance has set aside a contempt request filed by the University of Puerto Rico (UPR) after the institution and the Workers’ Union reached an agreement guaranteeing unobstructed access to university facilities and full compliance with existing court orders.
The court’s action applies solely to the contempt petition and does not alter previously issued injunctions or judicial directives, which remain in force. As part of the agreement, the Workers’ Union formally acknowledged that blocking campus gates, obstructing access, or preventing UPR employees from performing their duties constitutes illegal conduct and a serious violation of university regulations and judicial mandates.
The document further states that prohibiting or interfering with vehicular or pedestrian access to any UPR facility, or preventing students, employees, or contractors from carrying out their functions, is contrary to university rules and standing court orders. The union rejected and condemned such actions and instructed its members to refrain from engaging in them. It also affirmed that students, employees and contractors must be able to enter university grounds without obstruction, intimidation or limitation.
UPR President Zayira Jordán Conde said the institution turned to the courts to ensure that university operations could continue without interference.
“The University went to court to protect free access to our facilities and to guarantee that our students, employees, and contractors could carry out their responsibilities without impediments,” she said. “The agreement clearly establishes that commitment and recognizes that blocking access or obstructing university work is illegal and serious conduct.”
She added that UPR will continue to respect the constitutional rights of its employees and the broader university community, including freedom of expression, within the boundaries set by law, university regulations, and judicial determinations.
“We have always recognized the right to express oneself and to protest,” Jordán Conde said. “What cannot happen is that the exercise of that right prevents others from studying, working, or accessing university facilities. This agreement clearly defines that line and allows us to continue addressing any disputes through the appropriate processes.”
The agreement was signed Monday by Workers’ Union President David Muñoz Hernández and Jordán Conde.
The university had filed the contempt motion after alleging noncompliance with court orders related to campus access. Following the union’s formal commitments under the agreement, the court dismissed the request.
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