With just over two days before a strike deadline at the University of Puerto Rico (UPR), David Muñoz, president of the UPR Workers’ Union (Sindicato de Trabajadores), said no agreement has been reached with UPR President Zayira Jordán Conde over union members’ health plan demands. Muñoz called the situation "critical." A meeting is set for Monday at 11:00 AM at the Department of Labor, preceded by a demonstration in support of university employees an hour earlier.
The union ratified a strike vote Wednesday at an extraordinary assembly, set to take effect Tuesday if no deal is reached over the medical plan chosen by the union, which Muñoz said differs from other UPR employees’ plans and is fully funded by the administration at no cost to workers. He noted a 2021 attempt to fold these workers into UPR’s health plan, which would have required contributions.
Jordán Conde said Thursday via press release that the administration was evaluating the union’s proposed coverage alternative to submit to the UPR Governing Board for final decision. Muñoz accused the administration of acting outside the law and, in a Friday letter, accused Jordán Conde of again breaking her word by refusing to sign contracts with Triple S and Delta Dental.