NotiCel: Law 7 has been the ‘most nefarious,’ unions say

On March 10, 2011, NotiCel (via Inter News Service) reported that, two years after Governor Luis Fortuño signed Fiscal Emergency Law 7 and just as many of its clauses were expiring, union leaders agreed the statute is the most “nefarious” in Puerto Rico’s history. The law brought tax measures, the dismissal of thousands of public employees and the freezing of collective bargaining agreements, with the backing — in a divided opinion — of the Supreme Court. Protests dominated the two years.

Luisa Acevedo (Central Federation of Workers) called it “the most nefarious for the working class” and “devastating” for families that lost jobs. Aida Díaz (Teachers Association) spoke of worsening labor conditions and parallel effects in Education: frozen posts, larger groups and teachers doing janitorial, maintenance and administrative tasks, harming educational quality; she said she expected restoration of rights (leaves, union representative) as clauses expired. Annette González (United Public Servants) described it as a “catastrophe” and “the worst blow” to the union movement.

Although the law did not apply directly to public corporations, Ángel Figueroa Jaramillo (UTIER) cited the “nefarious effect of the dismissal [of] 30,000 workers” and said the laid-off were replaced by private firms. He also noted extra taxation and lagging labor conditions after collective agreements were nullified; he saw no relief because a Labor Code and labor reform under discussion would, in his view, strip benefits.

Manuel Perfecto Torres (General Union of Workers) marked March 9, 2009 as a nefarious day: as clauses expired, “tens of thousands” remained unemployed after offering up to 13½ years. Union opinion ≠ judgment. Primary: NotiCel 2011-03-10.

Source: NotiCel. https://noticel.com/ultima-hora/20110310/ley-7-ha-sido-la-mas-nefasta/