40,000 teachers strike in Puerto Rico
February 22, 2008 by libertyisforme
Background:
Yesterday, 40,000 teachers (all union card holding members) went on strike, 11 of the 14 arrested protesters were teachers. El Dia, the Spanish paper in Puerto Rico, reports only 161,688 students of 523,399 enrolled students attended school yesterday.
Over the past several months, the teachers union has being negotiating with the state officials collective bargaining, cap to class sizes, and the creation school teachers committees. The committee would take control away from the state and allow school committees to control their class schedules, operations, and budget.
Under law, union strikes are illegal. This is the first teacher strike since 1993.
Today, the Governor will try to decertify the union.
The union is calling parents to join the protest.
More, read the following:
Orlando Sentinel - Teachers Strike in Puerto Rico
El Dia - Maestros rechazaron el llamado al paro
Columnist - Los maestros en el medio
Commentary:
The thing not being reported in the media, of course, is that the teachers union is really fighting for pay hikes and better working conditions. The starting salary of a teacher in Puerto Rico is less than $20,000.
However, what teachers actually want out of the negotiations is removing state control and creating local control through school committees. Government corruption is handicapping children’s educational success. Well, you say, government corruption is everywhere.
Let me put it to you this way, Puerto Rico likes to mimic Detroit. Eight months ago, the state declared a state emergency and closed all state jobs to balance the budget. My Puerto Rico will not become the next Detroit.
I say, the Governor should decertify the union and deregulate schools.
To the abuelitos and parents who may join the strike, I say, chant: Death to the state! Give us school choice!
You need to be the hostage negotiator here. But perhaps the monopolistic education system needs to commit suicide…