December 2008 N. CA Report Back On Victory of FMPR Puerto Rican Teachers By Pedro Angel Rivera

Report And Video On The Victory of the FMPR Puerto Rican Teachers in Their Recent Election Battle
by Puerto Rican Film Maker and FMPR Supporter Pedro Angel Rivera

December 4, 2008 7:00 PM San Jose Peace Center (Refreshments at 6:30 PM)
48 S 7th St # 101
San Jose, California
Donation Requested

Sponsored by San Jose Peace Center &
Peace and Freedom Party of California


December 7, 2008 7:00 PM
522 Valencia St. 3rd Fl/16th St.
San Francisco, CA
Donation Requested

Sponsored by
Labor Video Project
Peace and Freedom Party of California


One of the most militant and active group of teachers in the world are the teachers of the Puerto Rican FMPR. This democratically run union which represented the 40,000 teachers of Puerto Rico has successfully defeated the effort to establish charter schools in Puerto Rico. Their strike in February of this year was met with massive repression by the police and the government with the support of the SEIU International who sought to destroy the union. Following the strike, the government in collaboration with the SEIU leaders Dennis Rivera and SEIU president Andy Stern supported a pro-management union that supported privatization to take over the union. The FMPR was prevented from running in a new representation election and despite this scheme, the teachers by a large number rejected the SEIU supported company union. Their struggle for justice has been supported by the AFT nationally, the UTLA and the California Federation of Teachers.
http://www.cft.org/home_news/conv08adoptedres.pdf
http://www.sflaborcouncil.org/ViewUpload/315

Pedro Angel Rivera is the most important labor film maker in Puerto Rico with his films "Operation Bootstrap" and "Plena Is Song, Plena Is Work". He is now producing labor videos for the FMPR and will screen a short video on this important struggle of the recent teacher's struggle.

For information on this education/solidarity event contact

Labor Video Project
P.O. Box 720027
San Francisco, CA 94172
lvpsf(at)labornet.org
http://www.laborvideo.org

For More Information Go To:

http://www.fmprlucha.org
http://mysite.verizon.net/vze2kxcd/fmprsupportcommitteenewyork/
http://defendfmprteachers.googlepages.com/
http://www.counterpunch.org/early10242008.html
http://theactivist.org/blog/against-all-odds-pr-teachers-union-defeats-seiu
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1304208633438079076



Páginas Sindicales
Publication of the Union Labor Education Department, Federación de Maestros de Puerto Rico
November, 2008
By Luis Ángel Torres Torres
Union Labor Education Secretary


Teachers in Puerto Rico are overjoyed. Aragunde
is about to leave and will never return because the
anti-union governor Anibal Acevedo Vila was defeated
in the general election. Both, Aragunde and Acevedo
Vila, were decertified by the Puertorrican people.
We do not have the slightest hint of doubt that
the administrative chaos, the anti-worker agenda
and the corruption in the Department of Education
were among the issues that contributed to the defeat
of the incumbent political party. During the last two
year the FMPR had been asking governor Anibal
Acevedo Vila to oust the Secretary of Education,
Rafael Aragunde, and to bring a new Secretary
that could straighten the course of the Department
of Education. Obviously, the governor ignored our
petition. Even worse, he supported his anti-worker
agenda.
Teachers will not forget the arrogance, impunity
and the arbitrary abusive practices of Rafael Aragunde
and his administrative clique. We will not forgive
the arbitrary suspension of teachers, particularly
the brave brothers in Utuado, or the elimination of
acquired rights. Neither will we forget the open and
growing corruption that benefited his partners and
allies, nor the blatant violation of laws and bylaws.
We will keep in mind that the imposition of the
computerized grading system and the biometric time
keeping attendance were brought just to pay millions
of dollars to private companies. It is impossible to
forget that Aragunde never pretended to negotiate
with the FMPR in good faith but plotted a conspiracy
to decertify our Union. My goodness! It is forbidden
to forget.
Aragunde acted as the governor’s landlord in order
to destroy our union and privatize public education.
Thanks to the teachers strike and its aggressive
struggle they failed on their objective. At the end of
October we strongly defeated his boss union (SPM
affiliated to the teachers association). On November
the 4th the people voted overwhelmingly to turn over
the government trough a total and definite defeat.
Despite the damage caused to public education and
the abuse committed against all workers, these two
common criminals are leaving office without anything
done and rejected almost unanimously by teachers
and the people. The History waste basket has a very
special place reserved for both of them.
Do you remember when governor Acevedo said:
“what strike?” Now it’s time for us to say: “What
governor?” while Federación de Maestros turns out
to be the only means of defense for the teachers,
the binomial Aragunde-Anibal are preparing their
suitcases shamefully.
Picture yourself upon that disgusting past, new
coming governor Luis Fortuño. Get ready to listen to
everybody which will help you do things right by not
committing the same mistakes as your predecessor.
Federación de Maestros keeps up with its struggle
in defense of our rights and towards a high quality
educations for our students. No doubt about it .
Páginas Sindicales
Publication of the Union Labor Education Department, Federación de Maestros de Puerto Rico
November, 2008
We are proud of the result of this election and we have renewed
strength to continue our struggle towards excelence in public
education and aiming towards exlusive representation
Aragunde never again
By Luis Ángel Torres Torres
Union Labor Education Secretary
I was left
behind
page 2
Páginas Sindicales Union Labor Education Department FMPR
The teachers of Puerto Rico,
once more, delivered a lesson in
respect, trouncing the SPM/ASOMA
Bosses Union and their cronies, the
dues-hungry Service Employees
International Union (SEIU), in the
tainted referendum organized by
the Commission of Labor Relations
and the government-boss. Even
though the numbers speak for
themselves--18,125 NO votes,
14,675 YES votes—they do not
adequately reflect the significance
of the victory of the Teachers
Federation of Puerto Rico (FMPR)
and the Puerto Rican teachers, under
the most adverse conditions. The
government-boss in collusion with the
Association of Teachers of Puerto Rico
(ASOMA—the association consisting
historically of principals, directors
and administrators), through the Commission
of Labor Relations, designed and organized the
referendum in order to assure the victory of the
ASOMA/SEIU Affiliate: SPM. Every maneuver
possible was implemented to ensure SPM would
run without any competitors Election logistics
were designed to accommodate the needs of
SPM/ASOMA, choosing voting centers (schools)
where they had support SPM colluded with
the Appellate Court and the Colonial Supreme
Court to skew the interpretation of Law 45 in
such a manner that would exclude FMPR from
the ballot. FMPR was denied observer status
during the election and access to the voting
lists, leaving the entire process in the hands of
the SPM and the Commission of Labor Relations
Thus, the same entities that decertified FMPR
also controlled the vote, a transparent conflict
of interest.
Recognizing that FMPR could not be defeated
in a fair election, the bourgeois state utilized
all of its resources to destroy the union. Such
measures, fascistic in nature, reflected the
government’s desperation as well as its utter
lack of respect and animosity towards the
working class of Puerto Rico. Thus, the victory
of the NO vote indicates a resounding defeat
of the anti-worker and corrupt government of
Anibal Acevedo Vilá, as well as his hand-picked
union. In an unprecedented example of trade
union dignity, thousands of teachers refused
to be seduced by SEIU’s disgraceful efforts to
buy their votes with trinkets and lunch coolers-
-an indication of their own personal growth and
political sophistication. Self-respect and pride
triumphed over a campaign of lies in which
SPM/SEIU spent millions of dollars on false
propaganda in newspapers, radio and television
and in the hiring of over 500 functionaries for
“Which union is the only choice on the ballot,
steal votes and still manages to loose ?
The SPM-ASOMA-SEIU bosses union.”
“Self-respect and pride triumphed
over a campaign of lies”
Mock burial of the SPM-ASOMA-SEIU representing its defeat on
October the 29th
page 3
Páginas Sindicales Union Labor Education Department FMPR
the campaign. In effect, the triumph of the NO
vote signifies a decisive and stinging defeat
to the strategic holy alliance among business
unions, employer unions and growth-at-all-
costs unions within SEIU/Change to Win and the
AFL-CIO. SEIU, under the leadership of Dennis
Hickey, Roberto Pagán and Juan Eliza, made a
poor business deal: they threw away $20 million
invested in the SPM campaign and in payments
to Governor Acevedo Vila--who actually handed
them exclusive representation of the teachers
on a silver platter. Teachers in Puerto Rico
confirmed, as they did previously with the AFT,
that they reject any kind of tutelage as manifested
by the behaviors inherent in
colonial trade unionism. The
NO vote also reflects that
teachers identify FMPR as their
instrument of struggle—a role
it has played for over 42 years.
As there was no money for
an expensive campaign, our
union ran on its track record of
years of militancy in defense
of teachers and students,
its democratic and inclusive
structure and its coherent
analysis. School delegates,
activists and supporters were
able to organize on FMPR’s
history of refusing to sell out or
give up. The spirit of FMPR is
deeply imbedded in the hearts
and minds of teachers who
believe in struggle. Therefore,
the triumph of the NO vote is also a victory
of classist, democratic and combative trade
unionism.
Educational workers identify with the fabric of
FMPR’s democratic organization, commitment of
solidarity and its leaders who, without privilege,
earning the same salaries as their members,
represent their interests with strength and
pride. As opposed to Aida Diaz (president of
both ASOMA and SPM, its offspring), FMPR
leadership has credibility amongst teachers
and throughout the island. The NO vote
succeeded in silencing the paid news analysts
and commentators who forecasted the death
of FMPR. What are these pro-government
commentators and analysts saying now? It is
important to note the extraordinary efforts of
FMPR’s entire organization. The voluntary work
of thousands of teachers, local union leadership,
union functionaries and executive committee
members was a key element in the FMPR triumph.
Our exhilarating victory and related experiences
will serve to enhance the forces necessary to
continue and develop our campaigns. The net
effect of this vote is to confirm the effectiveness
of FMPR’s strategy--including the teachers’
strike--to effectively represent and defend
teachers, to stop privatization and to obtain
respect. The FMPR is a bonafide organization
with over 11,000 members who pay union dues
voluntarily. The defeat of SPM opens a new level
of struggle to regain exclusive representation.
We are armed to the teeth with the support of
our teachers which would indicate that sooner,
rather than later, the FMPR will achieve this
objective.
Stewards and teachers discuss strategies during the Summer Union
Workshops in San Juan.
THERE IS NO SUCCESS WITHOUT STRUGGLE, NO STRUGGLE WITHOUT SACRIFICE!
“The NO vote also reflects that
teachers identify FMPR as their
instrument of struggle”
page 4
Páginas Sindicales Union Labor Education Department FMPR
•Before the start of the voting process the total
number of teachers with the right to vote was
36,000; when the process ended this number
grew to 40,363. Where did those 4,000
additional voters come from?
•The FMPR had no observers in the voting
centers. SPM, the boss and the Commission of
Labor Relations maintained complete control.
•In many district the Commission functionaries
left the voting polls, leaving the SPM observers
alone with the ballots to do as they pleased.
•The SPM coordinators came and went from
the voting polls at will.
•The SPM “observers” verified the lists, handed
out the ballots and were able to arbitrarily and
capriciously reject voters—for example, those
without identification.
•The ballots were not initialed, enabling
their substitution or reproduction without
detection.
•In past union elections, voters were tinged
with ink on their index finger upon entering
the voting center; this did not occur this time.
Anyone would have gone to vote in various
districts on the same day.
•Most SPM voters were allowed to vote without
ID while FMPR voters where denied.
•Amongst the functionaries of the Commission
of Labor Relations were the lawyers who
presented the case for the decertification
of the FMPR and who denied the FMPR the
right to observe the NO vote. This obvious
conflict of interest created a compelling
incentive for these forces to ignore any voting
irregularities.
•In the area of San Juan and Carolina, the
voting was suspended on Wednesday, October
9th due to the possible arrival of a hurricane.
Neither the Commission nor the Department
of Education announced that voting would
resume the following Monday, disenfranchising
over 1,200 teachers.
It is likely that the NO vote won with an
8,000 vote margin, as even conservative
estimates indicate that between 3,500 and
4,000 votes were stolen, particularly due
to the emptying of lists in many voting
centers.
IRREGULAR ACTIONS THAT AFECTEd
THE ELECTION RESULTS AGAINST FMPR
Voters line in the San Juan area, october the 14th