Program Information

Puerto Rico Unions Fight Privatization of Schools and Public Power Company

Series:

Subtitle:

Program Type:

Weekly Program

Featured Speakers/Commentators:

Contributor:

Ken Nash and Mimi Rosenberg Contact Contributor

Date Published:

Feb. 9, 2018, 5:17 p.m.

Summary: Teacher and Utility Unions on the State of the Puerto Rican Labor Movement After Maria and Governor Rossello's Plans to Privatize the Public Power Company and Schools
with
Fredyson Martinez Estevez, Vice- President of the Irrigation & Electrical
Workers Union, Unin de Trabajadores de la Industria Elctrica y Riego,
and
Mercedes Martnez Padilla, President of the Teachers' Federation of Puerto Rico/Federacin de Maestros de Puerto Rico

In Puerto Rico, hundreds of thousands
of people are still reeling from the destruction caused by Hurricane Maria. In a time of such dire need, the Trump administration has failed to provide the support needed to restore water to 7% of Puerto Rican residents and power to the nearly one in three residents, paving the way for a catastrophic announcement. The decision to privatize Puerto Ricos state-owned power company which follows the same dangerous path mapped out in the Trump administrations draft infrastructure
plan.

Whether its water or energy, privatization helps Wall Street at the expense of the well being and health of communities, particularly low-income families and people of color. Trump's leaked infrastructure
plan similarly provides a blueprint for handing over public land and public water to Wall Street. It seeks to privatize local water systems and other critical public services, prioritizing limited federal dollars to Wall Street and corporate investors. This scheme would also sell off federal assets and create a new infrastructure fund by opening up federal lands and waters to mineral and energy development benefiting the oil and gas industry.

Well speak with representatives of public sector unions in Puerto Rico representing teachers and utility workers about Governor Rossello's plans to privatize their services, and about challenges faced by the labor movement and workers following hurricane Maria and theyll discuss labor issues affecting those unions under the Puerto Rico Oversight, Management, and Economic Stability Act (PROMESA)

Credits: Produced by Ken Nash and Mimi Rosenberg

Notes: please notify us if you plan to broadcast this program - knash@igc.org

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