SPT seeks to place fiscal board’s decisions on salaries under greater congressional scrutiny
By THE STAR STAFF
The Puerto Rican Workers Union (SPT) is stepping up its efforts to bring Puerto Rico’s labor concerns directly to congressional leaders in Washington, arguing that the Financial Oversight and Management Board’s opposition to salary increases for public employees has left thousands of government workers struggling with stagnant wages amid rising living costs.
The union’s campaign was highlighted during a recent meeting in Florida between SPT representatives and Angie Nixon, the Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate from Florida. The gathering formed part of a broader civic engagement and voter mobilization effort by the SPT, SEIU Local 1996, and other labor organizations in the United States aimed at forging ties with current and prospective federal policymakers.
SPT President Israel Marrero Calderín said one of the union’s primary objectives is to place the oversight board’s decisions under greater congressional scrutiny, particularly its resistance to what the union describes as long-overdue salary justice measures for public-sector employees.
“Among the issues SPT seeks to bring to these spaces is the conduct of the Financial Oversight and Management Board, especially its opposition to salary justice initiatives for public employees,” Marrero said. “We have repeatedly denounced that the Board’s policies have represented an obstacle to improving the economic conditions of thousands of workers, particularly non-teaching personnel within the Department of Education, whose salaries remain far behind the constant increase in the cost of living.”
The union contends that while inflation and living expenses have continued to climb, many public workers have seen little improvement in compensation. SPT leaders argue that federal lawmakers should closely examine how the oversight board’s fiscal decisions affect collective bargaining rights, labor conditions and the delivery of public services in Puerto Rico.
Marrero said the union views congressional oversight as especially important because the oversight board was created by Congress under the federal Puerto Rico Oversight, Management and Economic Stability Act, commonly known as PROMESA, and remains accountable to federal authorities.
“For us, it is essential that Congress exercise effective oversight over the Board’s decisions and examine their consequences on public services, collective bargaining and labor rights in Puerto Rico,” he said.
The meeting with Nixon is part of a broader SPT strategy to ensure that Puerto Rico’s labor issues remain part of federal policy discussions, regardless of who ultimately wins congressional seats. Union officials said they plan to continue seeking meetings with members of Congress and candidates pursuing federal office in order to press for wage increases, improved working conditions and greater accountability from the oversight board.
“Our participation in education activities, mobilization efforts and civic meetings in the United States responds to the need to keep Puerto Rico’s issues present in federal discussions,” Marrero said. “We will continue seeking spaces for dialogue with representatives and candidates for federal office so that demands for salary justice, better working conditions and accountability from the Financial Oversight and Management Board are heard in Washington.”
