Superior Judge Anthony Cuevas Ramos ordered on Wednesday at 4:50 p.m. the members of the Union of Workers of the University of Puerto Rico and its president David Muñoz Hernández that they cannot obstruct the access to the Río Piedras Campus of the University of Puerto Rico (UPR) under penalty of contempt.
“Therefore, we order the Union of Workers of the University of Puerto Rico, Mr. David Muñoz Hernández, or any of the defendants, their officers, agents, servants, employees and lawyers and/or or those people who act in agreement or actively participate with them, who cease and desist from prohibiting, impeding or interfering, either through the use of fences, motor vehicles or any obstruction, which does not allow free vehicular access or people , or interfere with the daily functions of the University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus, under penalty of contempt.
It is noted that failure to comply with this Order will be sufficient cause to order your arrest and admission to jail for criminal contempt. In order to preserve the rights of all those involved, as well as to preserve the security and operations of the UPR, our immediate intervention is necessary to reiterate to the defendant to refrain from impeding or interfering with the daily functions of the University of Puerto Rico, while we elucidate the merits of the claim in the injunction hearing,” Judge Anthony Cuevas Ramos said in the order.
The UPR, represented by Luis Ferrao Delgado and the Río Piedras Campus, directed by the rector Angélica Varela Liavona, alleged that the accesses blocked by the Union have paralyzed the normal operations of the institution, affecting, among other things, research projects and the academic calendar.
The reason for this interdict arises from the blocking of entrances by the union, which has caused the interruption of operations, research and regular activities of the university. In addition, this act has affected essential services and has jeopardized federal funds for improvements and maintenance.
Cuevas Ramos called a preliminary injunction hearing for August 23, 2023 at 9:00 in the morning.
Last Tuesday, the Union declared a strike under the allegation that the president of the UPR, Luis Antonio Ferrao Delgado, did not comply with some agreements stipulated in the month of February.
The employer-labor conflict is in the mediation process at the Department of Labor and Human Resources (DTRH).
