[olympiaworkers] SUPPORT THE TEACHERS OF PUERTO RICO

SUPPORT THE TEACHERS OF PUERTO RICO, March 4

WHO FIGHT FOR THE RIGHTS OF US ALL!

A crucial strike for all working people is now taking place in Puerto
Rico! The island's biggest labor union is waging a fight for survival, for
free public education and against the privatization schools. At stake are
the universal right to unionize, to collective bargaining, to strike and
workers' rights and the basic right of freedom of _expression. The
Teachers' Federation of Puerto Rico (FMPR) has been on strike since
February 21, 2008 in a life and death struggle against the anti-labor and
repressive crusade of the colonial government. The colonial administration
of Anibal Acevedo Vilá has been refusing to negotiate for more than 27
months with no contract. With more than 40,000 members, mainly women, the
Federation has refused to be intimidated and is taking a courageous stand
for the rights of all.

The government's contempt for teachers, students and parents, as well as
for their input in education, is so extreme that it locked out the
teachers throughout the island, as well as hundreds of thousands of
students, for two weeks during April-May 2006. The government, facing a
fiscal crisis, was forcing the public sectors to endure the brunt of the
crisis.

Now SEIU chief Dennis Rivera helped get Puerto Rico teachers union ousted
so he could hijack members. While the clash between the teachers' militant
leaders and the government was grabbing the headlines, Rivera was
maneuvering to snatch control of the teachers for his Service Employees
International Union. Puerto Rico Governor Acevedo Vilá's Secretary of
Education, Aragunde, has ruled that the federation will not be permitted
to run in any new elections for a union to represent the teachers.

More than support statements are needed! As support grows among workers,
union members and independent unions in Puerto Rico and internationally,
our support NOW will make a difference!! With growing potential for other
unions in Puerto Rico to walk out in solidarity, public pressure greatly
intensifies on the anti-worker union-busting administration in Puerto
Rico. Already, the colonial government faces a social and political
crisis, as the school strike affects every part of the island. Solidarity
actions by workers everywhere in support of the Puerto Rican teachers are
crucial.

JOIN US IN SUPPORT OF PUERTO RICO'S TEACHERS AND IN DEFENSE

OF PUBLIC EDUCATION!
DEMONSTRATE YOUR SOLIDARITY!!
Tuesday, March 4, 2008

Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration offices
475 Park Avenue South at 32 Street, Manhattan

5pm

http://mysite.verizon.net/vze2kxcd/fmprsupportcommitteenewyork/

http://www.fmprlucha.org/

fmpr.support.committee.ny@gmail.com