Puerto Rico Telecomm Strike Picks Up Steam

The Greater Committee of Labor Organizations (CAOS), the organization which coordinates the struggle of the telephone workers and the people of Puerto Rico against the sale and privatization of the telephone company, issued a call to the people this afternoon to step up the struggle. As we reported earlier, the movement was at a crossroads, facing negotiations with the government and the Puerto Rico Telephone Company, and the need to resume the offensive after the successful 48 hour general strikeof July 7-8, 1998.

Earlier the press had reported that the leadership of CAOS had implied that the telephone workers were returning to work. However, after thorough discussions at the meeting which began at 9 a.m. this morning, the telephone workers’ will to remain on strike was confirmed. The work plan presented by José Valentín, president of the electrical workers union (UTIER), states: "we reaffirm that our position and aims are correct and that the government of Puerto Rico is totally disarticulated, ambivalent, and without clear direction."

Among the outstanding points of the work-plan is the proposal for another Delegate Assembly of all the 60 unions that make up the CAOS to consider another General Strike, possibly in the month of August. In addition, there will be protests at all workplaces and short, sporadic work stoppages.

The struggle against the privatization of the phone company will be linked to the situation in the health industry, where the policies of privatization have shown their failure. Yesterday, one sub-regional hospital in Humacao and three health clinics in Naguabo, Yabucoa and Las Piedras closed down when the private company that owns them could not continue to manage them. The situation of the employees is uncertain.

The existing regional committees of the Greater Committee of Labor Organizations will strengthen their work and new regional committees were formed to enhance the participation of greater numbers of people.

Automobile caravans and protests in important shopping malls are among the activities planned for mobilization and propaganda. A fundraising radio-broadcast will be organized to collect funds for the strikers.

In choosing the path of struggle, the CAOS is honoring the slogan which has prevailed during the Strike of the People: ¡Lucha SI, Entrega NO!

You can get regular updates and send messages on the Telecomm

Strike/General Strike in Puerto Rico by subscribing to our mailing list at

http://www.delphi.com/puertoricolibre/

The following pages on the Internet contain text and pictures of the Telecomm Strike in Puerto Rico, which will become a general strike on Tuesday, July 7, 1998.

Pagina José Fortuno: Huelga del Pueblo Contra la Privatización (Bilingual)

http://www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/Senate/9169/

Huelga General en Puerto Rico (Bilingual)

http://www.geocities.com/WestHollywood/Heights/5368/huelga.html

Página Unión Trabajadores Industria Electrica y Riego (En español)

http://www.utier.org/solidaridad.html

Puerto Rico Telecomm Strike Picks Up Steam 11 July 1998
Communications International and CWU (UK) Declare Solidarity with Puerto Rico Strikers
URGENT APPEAL FROM PUERTO RICAN WORKERS
News and Photos from the Puerto Rico Telephone Company Strike
Puerto Rico General Strike - statement by Concilio General de Trabajadores (CGT), 30 June 1998
 Unions aim to cripple Puerto Rico with strike - link to Reuters report, 30 June
Puerto Rico: General strike set for July 7
Call for national strike in Puerto Rico against privatization of phone company 28 June 1998 (a LabourNet link)
Report on Puerto Rico Telephone Company workers' strike by Jose B. Davila-Acaron, 25 June 1998 (a LabourNet link)
Strike against Puerto Rico Telephone Privatisation 18 June 1998 (a LabourNet link)
Stop violence against striking workers! 18 June 1998 (a LabourNet link)
PUERTO RICO: Protest Greets Phone Company’s Privatisation 29 May 1998
Puerto Ricans Stop Work to March Against Telephone Company Privatisation by Jose B Davilas (a LabourNet link)
The Critchley Solidarity Page
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