Posted on 05/09/2006 7:05:01 AM PDT by ncountylee
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico · More than 120,000 union workers are set to walk off their jobs today and demonstrate at pharmaceutical companies, banks and commercial centers after leaders failed to resolve a fiscal crisis that has forced almost 100,000 public employees out of their jobs since May 1.
Union leaders had warned the Legislature and Gov. Anibal Acevedo Vila that they would call the strike as a show of solidarity if lawmakers had not resolved the crisis by Monday.
Ricardo Santos, the president of the Electrical and Irrigation Industry Workers Union (UTIER), said his group would be joined by truckers, electricians and others from the private sector. Teachers and other public employees will join the demonstrations as well.
Santos said their venom is aimed at corporations, which the unions think are not contributing a fair share of tax revenue to the U.S. commonwealth. Others warn, however, that a general strike could throw the island into a much deeper tailspin.
Since the partial government shutdown began last week, close to 90,000 public employees have filed for unemployment benefits.
Nearly 20 municipalities have suspended or reduced services such as police enforcement, health and garbage collection because the central government froze the subsidies that cities receive to pay for those services.
The island saw its overall credit rating reduced to near junk-bond status on Monday. Moody's Investors Service's rating cut of Puerto Rico's general obligation bond to "Baa3," the agency's lowest investment grade above junk status, affects about $25 billion of government debt, John Cline, a vice president at Moody's, said.
(Excerpt) Read more at sun-sentinel.com ...
The game continues, amigo...
This "general strike" has been cancelled. The major unions backed off after a conference committee was named to try and work out the problem.
There was a small demonstration at a cruise ship pier this morning, but it was broken up after they learned of the above.
The rumors of our death are severely being overblown in the Mainland media.
A day without PRs.
Thanks for the update. I figured you would have the straight story while the drive-by media are busily doing their famous headless chicken impersonation.
There is just no substitute for having boots on the ground and eyes on the target...
Thanks for the update.
I wnet to PR once and don't really remember people working very much. So I'm not sure a stoppage would be noticed.........
You know I'm the eternal optimist about this here island. With this "crisis" at least traffic is lighter than usual around the San Juan Metro area.
On Sunday, one week from Mother's Day, the shopping malls were packed, as usual.
And our Police Superintendent, who most people like and support, is keeping a close watch on the leftist agitators who insert themselves in these demonstrations.
That's life in the Tropics...
(Denny Crane: "Every one should carry a gun strapped to their waist. We need more - not less guns.")
Yeah baby, let's make this third world toilet a state.
How would anyone be able to tell?
Socialized Medicine and Socialized Car, Truck and Motorcycle Insurance?!!!
Even with all the billions of dollars these deadbeats receive from the U.S. Taxpayers, every year, how could they not go broke?!!
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