The Central Puerto Rican Workers (CPT) on Monday expressed its rejection of the order issued on December 24, 2020 by Judge Laura Taylor Swain to prohibit the Government of Puerto Rico from enacting laws that will signed the former governor, Wanda Vázquez.
CPT President Emilio Neus Torres urged Governor Pedro Pierluisi Urrutia to “defend Law 176 of 2019 which restores the vacation and sick leave days that were cut to workers in 2017 legislation. we can allow the Fiscal Control Board to push for the repeal of public policy established by legislation regarding workers’ rights.With the mandate of Wanda Vázquez, the Office of Human Resources Administration and Transformation of the Government of Puerto Rico issued a memorandum flattening the order of the judge. It is up to the current governor, Pedro Pierluisi Urrutia, to implement respect for public policy approved unanimously by the Legislature. “
“This situation represents the first line of fire of the Legislature and the Governor to respect, before the Fiscal Control Board, the public policy of Puerto Rico. In the case of the Legislature, three parties committed themselves to the repeal of the so-called labor reform The PPD, the PIP and the MVC received the support of 60 percent of the electorate together, so the majority of the town and the Legislature support the actions aimed at restoring workers ’rights enshrined in Act 176-2019 which the Board challenged before Judge Taylor Swain,” the union leader said in a written statement.
Neus Torres added that “the Governor’s challenge is to defend the legislative and executive authority of the government of Puerto Rico before the Fiscal Control Board and the Court. In his government program Pedro Pierluisi Urrutia is committed to the message to the Board “to recognize that under section 205 of PROMISE, the elected government has the authority to guide public policy without intervention. That is, after complying with the repeal of Labor Reform, the governor and legislators must fight the Board’s intervention. The Governor and legislators have a responsibility to defend public policy passed under the criteria of legislation-based economic development that implements social justice for workers and the people. Workers will be willing to give this fight from the street. It is up to the Governor and the Legislature to take all necessary action, including going to the United States Congress, to defend Puerto Rico. “
With regard to Law 176 of 2019, the union leader has criticized as “absurd and false the position of the Board that on holidays and illness makes the workforce less efficient. The truth is that the reduction of the license of 30- to 15-day holidays are an act that does not value the physical and mental rest that a worker requires to renew himself in terms of efficient productivity.In addition, holidays promote the family, social and cultural values that are needed in any society “.
“On the other hand, the sick leave is a necessary tool to protect the health of the worker, his colleagues and the people to whom a service is provided. The reality of the pandemic has underlined the importance of restoring and extending the sick leave.Therefore, based on the principles of social justice, it is imperative to defend both licenses.The ball, to defend the rights of workers, is on the court of the Legislature and the Governor. We hope that they will act in accordance with the historical moment and the message of the people in the last elections, “concluded Emilio Neus.
We recommend: