PUERTO RICO: Workers fight mass sackings

Around 120,000 public sector workers returned to their jobs on May 15 after they were laid off for two weeks. On May 1, the Puerto Rican government laid off 95,000 employees, closing down the public school system and partially closing almost half of government agencies. Fifteen municipalities were also partially shut down, laying off 25,000 municipal workers. In total, 10% of the labour force was sacked, sparking a huge economic downturn. Protests and blockades were organised daily by unions, student organisations, religious groups and others, targeting parliament, the banks and the governor's mansion. On May 12, tens of thousands of workers and supporters marched to the legislature to demand their reinstatement and oppose a 7% consumer sales tax that has been proposed to repay the government's debts.

From Green Left Weekly, May 24, 2006.

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From GLW issue 668