The Puerto Rican Workers Union (SPT-SEIU Local 1996) met with Cait Conley, Democratic candidate for the US House of Representatives in New York’s 17th Congressional District, to discuss the working and salary conditions of workers in Puerto Rico. Political director Javier Rodríguez and SEIU international secretary-treasurer Rocío Sáenz took part in the meeting. Rodríguez presented the union’s concerns about decisions by the Oversight Board and their impact on public employees represented by SEIU, noting these workers have gone more than 13 years without salary increases.
He questioned that the Board examines multi-million-dollar contracts with private companies with apparent flexibility, some of which have raised questions about their handling, while opposing salary improvements and benefits for public-service workers. He also called for Puerto Rico’s labor issues to have a bigger presence in federal congressional discussions on fiscal matters affecting the island.
The meeting, funded by an SEIU grant, is part of the SPT’s political and union efforts in the United States. Rodríguez urged Puerto Ricans on the mainland to ask relatives to vote for candidates committed to Puerto Rico issues. The union said another delegation meets Saturday in Florida with Senate candidate Angie Nixon, a SEIU-FPSU member.