Support for FMPR teachers grows as the struggle continues

The Federation of Puerto Rican Teachers (FMPR), the largest union in Puerto Rico, is an independent union representing 44,000 members, more than 80 percent of whom are women.

The FMPR went on strike on Feb. 21 in defiance of Law 45, which outlaws strikes by public sector workers. The union had for 29 months attempted to negotiate a new contract in good faith with the Puerto Rican government, when the government decertified the union on Jan. 8.

The teachers were demanding better working conditions, including reduction in class sizes, adequate teaching materials and improvements in facilities for students. They opposed charter schools and privatization of public schools, and demanded a wage increase (their last increase was in 1996). There was a lot of support for the strike from students, parents and other Puerto Rican unions.

In ten days on the picket lines, dozens of strikers were criminalized and brutalized by the Puerto Rican police, who deployed their Shock Force against the peaceful picketers. Criminal charges were brought against at least four teachers.

On March 5, the FMPR held a workers’ and delegates’ assembly at the Roberto Clemente Coliseum in San Juan. More than 10,000 teachers came to cast their vote on a tentative agreement reached by the union and the government. The majority voted to “postpone” the strike and demanded that the Puerto Rican government uphold their end of the agreement.

Where does the FMPR stand now? The union is still decertified. The frame-up charges against FMPR members are not resolved—including at least five teachers with phony criminal charges for participating in the daily pickets and 17 teachers and one social worker unilaterally suspended from work without pay in Utuado this past August by the Department of Education without cause. The government promised that there will be no retaliation on the workers for joining the picket lines or for violating Law 45; that charter schools will not be introduced; that facilities will be repaired; that teaching materials will be supplied by the Department of Education; that class sizes will be reduced; and that the teachers will receive a raise. These promises must be enforced!

Unfortunately, the Service Employees International Union’s international vice president, Dennis Rivera, sabotaged the FMPR strike by meeting privately with Puerto Rican Governor Aníbal Acevedo Vilá. The meeting was to hatch a plan for Rivera and the SEIU to destroy the FMPR, the union democratically chosen by the rank and file to represent them. Juan Gonzalez of the New York Daily News called this “a shameful betrayal of solidarity.” (Feb. 29)

Rivera is following the same policies of SEIU president Andy Stern, which is suicide for the union and for working class solidarity. Rivera’s conduct is similar to strikebreaking and is a blot on the historic tradition of SEIU District 1199, one of the most progressive and respected unions in the country.

Delegates from the New York City United Federation of Teachers and the Professional Staff Congress of the City University of New York have passed strong resolutions in support of the teachers. The FMPR needs the 1199 union delegates to show solidarity by putting pressure on their leadership to reverse its disastrous course in this matter. It would also be an action of solidarity if every public worker union passed resolutions in support of the FMPR.

On March 13 Tania Hernández, a FMPR teacher and mother of two who was brutalized by the police during the strike, had trumped up charges against her dropped by the Supreme Court; however, two other teachers did not. The FMPR has vowed to have all teachers that were penalized for participating in the picket or supporting the FMPR absolved of any charges. To support the Utuado 18—three of whom have health issues, and none of whom are receiving pay—visit maestrosdeutuadosuspendidos.blogspot.com.

Last week the Puerto Rican press carried articles attempting to discredit FMPR President Rafael Feliciano in retaliation for the successful strike and wins by the FMPR.

Hernández and Feliciano will be in New York City speaking to teachers, union representatives, FMPR supporters, students and workers on April 3-6. For more information, visit mysite.verizon.net/vze2kxcd/fmprsupportcommitteenewyork/index.html.

Although the Puerto Rican government claims to have the FMPR decertified under “Law 45,” which was passed in 1998, this law only applies to labor unions. The FMPR has also been a bona fide organization since 1966 under the “Brotherhood or Bona Fide Organization Law 134,” which gives social and economic rights to organizations to represent workers in negotiations.

On March 5 more than 10,000 teachers signed FMPR union cards with dues check off, discarding the lies of the government and Department of Education.