Workers march against the fiscal board and for their rights

A union leader advocated for retirees and called for unity among unions amid the workers’ struggle. Pensioners are paid on a pay-as-you-go basis and most of their benefits have been repealed. (Félix Tomás Miguel Aponte)

By The Star Staff

Hundreds of workers marched on Thursday, May Day, protesting, among other things, the freeze on collective bargaining negotiations, problems with maintaining pension payments to retirees, decisions by the Financial Oversight and Management Board, and the actions of LUMA Energy, the private operator of Puerto Rico’s creaky electric power transmission and distribution system.

Amid the demonstration, which took place in front of the University of Puerto Rico’s flagship Río Piedras Campus, several labor leaders spoke out, each with their own demands. In the case of the Teachers’ Federation, through its president, Mercedes Martínez, the demand was against privatization.

“Teachers have been attacked by this [oversight] Board,” she said. “… The governor is a puppet of the board and spends time in a podcast with her husband … and there has not been a single press conference about this.”

Meanwhile, the General Workers’ Union demanded good faith negotiations and the signing of collective bargaining agreements, which remain frozen due to government bankruptcy.

“We have to say ‘no more,’” a marcher said. “The board is responsible for the labor reform that has stripped benefits from workers.”

Another demand was related to retiree pensions. School Cafeteria Employees Association President Nelly Ayala advocated for that population and called for unity among unions amid the workers’ struggle. Pensioners are paid on a pay-as-you-go basis and most of their benefits have been repealed.

Union marchers were joined by politicians and other citizens in support of labor justice.