From: RODRIGUEZ@cui.edu Date: Wed, 01 Jul 1998 10:26:24 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Support Puerto Rican Workers/ July 7 General Strike To: lista@azteca.net, psn@csf.colorado.edu IN%"rodrigvm@soca.com" ============================= ================= SUPPORT PUERTO RICAN WORKERS' STRUGGLE AGAINST NEO-LIBERALISM ========================================== =================== The courageous struggle of Puerto Rican workers against unpopular neoliberal policies need the support of U.S. and Latin America's workers. Despite the overwhelming popular opposition to the sale of the publicly owned phone company the Governor refuses to even consider holding a referendum. The head of the police downplayed the degree of public support for this strike and has blamed leftists for what is in fact a national movement for economic self-defense. Following is the fax number for the Fortaleza, the Governors' residence in San Juan. Tell Gov. Pedro Rosello that he should: 1. Place a moratorium of the sale 2. Heed the call of his people and call for a popular referendum. Governor Pedro Rosello Fortaleza FAX: 787-725-4569 Your fax may save Puerto Rican workers from further repression. More than 8 persons have already been injured and a number of explosive devices have been detonated in banks and telephone installations. There is a possibility that despite his announcement to the contrary, the governor may call the National Guard. This might cause further bloodshed among the island's population. ========================================== ============ THE PUERTO RICAN LABOR GENERAL STRIKE: July 7, 1998 Victor M. Rodriguez Organizing Committee to Support Puerto Rican Labor rodrigvm@soca.com (7/1/98) For the first time in Puerto Rico's history, in a massive protest against the recent sale of the island's publicly owned telephone company, a broad coalition of public and private workers has called for a general strike which will involve hundreds of thousands of workers. The strike will start on Tuesday July 7 and will include public workers, teachers, dockworkers, taxi drivers, doctors, lawyers and supporters who will join the existing picket lines of phone workers throughout the island. One demand of the striking workers is that the sale of the phone company be submitted to a popular referendum. Presently, labor organizations are asking all Puerto Ricans not to show to work starting on Tuesday to show their opposition to the sale of this public corporation. Annie Cruz, the leader of one of the two labor organizations of phone workers indicated to a local newspaper that the strike might be indefinite. The present labor conflict has achieved dimensions of a popular revolt against Puerto Rico's Governor Pedro Rosello's dismantling of the island's extensive public sector and its privatization. During the 1940s, the island's colonial government initiated a series of public enterprises to serve as a core of an industrialization process. Also following that period, the neo-populist government of the Popular Democratic Party of Luis Munoz Marin, developed one of the most progressive labor legislation in the region. The administration of Gov. Rosello has been gradually dismantling the progressive legislation and the public sector through a policy of privatization. The publicly owned phone company is one of the most advanced of Latin America with an extensive optic fiber web, cellular, Internet services, etc. Labor leaders and most of the island residents according to polls, believe this enterprise can be the foundation of the island's further economic development. According to a local sociologist this struggle has created a new autonomous party which is expressing itself thorough this process. The head of the island's police forces, Pedro Toledo, has blamed the labor conflict on outside agitators, and has named a number of pro-independence leaders as working behind the scenes to disrupt the island's economy. However, when asked to provide evidence about the conspiracy he said he could not reveal his sources. While a significant number of labor leaders support independence for Puerto Rico, the issue of preventing the sale of phone company has received support from all spheres of the island's civil society. On Wednesday July 1, 1998, a group of 20 Catholic priests, with the authorization of their bishop were going to join the picket lines. Most of the island's mainline and evangelical religious leadership have expressed themselves in support of the workers. University students, fresh out of a protest that led to the closing of the University of Puerto Rico for a week, have massively joined the strikers. All labor unions representing university professors, maintenance and staff also announced their support for the strike. VMR/7/1/98