UPR Workers’ Union to continue strike indefinitely
By THE STAR STAFF
David Muñoz, president of the University of Puerto Rico (UPR) Workers’ Union, announced on Tuesday that the strike will continue indefinitely following the expiration of a weekend moratorium, as no new talks with the university administration materialized.
“We will remain on strike given the absence of new discussions with the administration led by [UPR President] Dr. Zayira Jordán Conde and due to the failure to comply with the arbitration award issued by the Department of Labor’s Bureau of Conciliation and Arbitration, which upholds our right to select our own health insurance plan as established in our Collective Bargaining Agreement,” Muñoz said in a written statement.
The union leader noted that the arbitration award was subsequently ratified by the Court of First Instance, the Court of Appeals, and the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico.
Over the weekend, the union had granted a moratorium to give the UPR president an additional opportunity to comply with the ruling regarding the health insurance plan for the employees represented by the organization.
Muñoz said each campus would carry out the strike according to its specific circumstances, noting that the situation could change if the dispute is resolved or if the union membership decides on a different course of action.
As the next legal step, the contempt hearing requested by the union -- regarding the alleged failure to comply with the arbitration award issued on Jan. 25, 2022 -- will continue this Friday before the Court of First Instance.
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