The Union of Workers of the University of Puerto Rico (UPR) began an indefinite strike on Wednesday, until the university administration guarantees compliance with all the agreements reached in February, after a previous strike, informed David Muñoz, president of the union.
“We welcome the approval of the Fiscal Control Board of $5.3 million for the agreed salary adjustment, but we demand that all agreements be fulfilled, including the salary increase to $9.50 per hour starting September 1, the salary retroactive of 8.50 dollars per hour from 2021 to 2022, and that our right to negotiate our own medical plan be recognized,” Muñoz said in written statements.
“If the management does not guarantee these terms, the strike will continue,” added the union leader.
The president of the University of Puerto Rico (UPR), Dr. Luis Ferrao, announced in the afternoon that the Fiscal Control Board (JCF) authorized the increase in the state minimum wage from $7.25 to $9.50 an hour for 1,430 employees of the institution who announced a strike.
“The commitment I made with the Workers Union last February 2023 is already a reality. We made all the necessary adjustments and the Fiscal Oversight Board has just approved this increase where no employee of the University of Puerto Rico will receive less than the state minimum salary required in Puerto Rico. I am confident that this increase will slightly alleviate the economic burden of our fellow employees who strive every day to give their best in their different tasks,” said the president of the UPR in written statements.
Ferrao urged annulment of the decreed strike. “I request all employees to put aside the strike vote which directly affects our students and the efforts we have made with the new UPR admissions policy, which has led us to, for the first time in 6 years, we have not lost students,” he said.
It was reported that the adjustment entails a fiscal impact of $5.3 million, a figure that was approved by the Fiscal Control Board. The payment is retroactive to July 1, 2023 and will be effective on the payroll of September 14, 2023, since the second payroll process is underway.
“We call on the colleagues of the Workers’ Union to desist from carrying out a strike tomorrow, Wednesday. We have done justice to the workers of the UPR. Now let’s allow our students tomorrow Wednesday, especially the new ones, to start their university life with great enthusiasm and hope that their dreams will come true at the University of Puerto Rico,” said the president of the UPR.
