Puerto Rican teachers demand social justice and dignified retirement

San Juan, February 6 (RHC)-- Thousands of teachers and education sector workers took to the streets in different cities in Puerto Rico, while marching from the Capitol to La Fortaleza in San Juan, to renew their demands for greater salary justice and a dignified retirement.

The teachers went to the Capitol and then mobilized to La Fortaleza to communicate their demands to legislative leaders and the governor, Pedro Pierluisi.  The teachers' leaders were able to meet with the secretary of the Department of Education (DE), Eliezer Ramos, and set a commitment for another meeting next Wednesday, in which the governor could participate.

The Puerto Rico Federation of Teachers (FMPR) will hold an assembly this Sunday to determine the steps to be taken. This Friday was the second day of concerted absences in public schools and according to the secretary, only 28% of the teachers went to work.

The teachers came from different parts of the island, while thousands of others who could not be in San Juan have held pickets and demonstrations near their work areas.  After several days of demonstrations with marked absences in many schools, thousands responded to the call for a massive protest to try to persuade government authorities to implement changes in the PAD (Debt Adjustment Plan).

The PAD, approved by the central government, the Legislature, the Fiscal Oversight Board and federal judge Laura Taylor Swain.s. (Alex Figueroa Cancel), reduces the pensions of retired teachers and sets the retirement age at 63.

The teachers emphasized that they will continue their struggle and their demands until the promises they have received regarding their salaries become a reality.