The streets that lead to La Fortaleza de Puerto Rico, the official residence of the island’s governor, Pedro Pierluisi, are packed with public servants, such as teachers, police officers and firefighters, demanding that the Administration address their claims of salary justice and decent retirement.
Today’s mobilization is added to others reported in recent weeks in Puerto Rico. Although the march was initially called by teachers’ organizations, other public servants joined the initiative.
The participants left around 8: 00 am from Luis Muñoz Rivera Park, in Puerta de Tierra, to Old San Juan. While the firefighters will march from the Capitol starting at 10: 00 am, according to a report by El Nuevo Día. For its part, the Police Bureau plans to partially close the Dos Hermanos Bridge in the area as part of the demonstration.
In the middle of the tense situation on the island due to the claims of public workers, the governor announced on Monday a temporary increase of $1 for teachers, 00 dollars per month, starting in July.
But the above has not been able to lower the spirits or the claims of the protesters.
Despite the announcement by the Government of Puerto Rico, unions such as the Puerto Rico Teachers Association and the Federation of Teachers warned that they will continue to insist on a base salary of $3,500 monthly.
Today, while the demonstration is taking place, the official informed that the temporary increase of $1,000 per month will be extended to school principals, regional superintendents and teacher facilitators.
But beyond recommending that they look for another job if they cannot fulfill their “vocation”, Pierluisi has not made a commitment in the case of firefighters and police officers.
Pierluisi’s actions occur after a 70% of the country’s teachers left the rooms to join the march.
The Debt Adjustment Plan imposed by the Fiscal Control Board as part of the process to get out of bankruptcy considerably complicates the scenario for these workers, since it implies 8% cuts in teachers’ retirement and 35 % of assets once they finish their working life.
The base salary for public school teachers on the island is $1,750 dollars per month, a figure that has not increased in years.
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Governor of Puerto Rico responds to protest by police and firefighters for better wages by recommending that they look for another job