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SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — 4 males walked to the car parking zone earlier than daybreak, then sat down blocking the doorway and linked their arms to await the arrival of tons of of federal and state workers for the work day.
Protesting years with out pay raises, the 4 workers of Puerto Rico’s Authority of Roads and Transportation refused to budge. A specialised police unit lastly moved in to take away them, and as they have been put in handcuffs, one of many males yelled: “Honest wage! Give us what you owe us!”
It’s a cry that has echoed throughout Puerto Rico in current weeks as authorities workers and supporters take to the streets, emboldened by hundreds of public faculty lecturers who deserted lecture rooms in early February to demand raises and higher pensions.
Protests are multiplying, with union leaders calling one other demonstration for Friday, and social unrest is posing one of many greatest challenges for Gov. Pedro Pierluisi a yr into his time period.
“The folks kicked the U.S. army out of Vieques. They kicked out a governor. We will make this occur,” mentioned Abner Dumey, who teaches historical past within the northern city of Naranjito.
Legislators are the one public staff who’ve an automated cost-of-living improve for his or her salaries, The U.S. territory’s different public workers haven’t gotten pay raises in additional than a decade — generally two — as the price of dwelling rises and the island fights to emerge from a prolonged financial disaster and a authorities chapter within the aftermath of lethal hurricanes, earthquakes and the pandemic.
Energy and water payments are practically 60% greater in Puerto Rico than the U.S. common. Groceries are 18% dearer than on the mainland, though well being care and housing prices, amongst others, are decrease, in keeping with the island’s Institute of Statistics.
Marcia Rivera, an economist and sociologist whose analysis focuses largely on poverty and inequality, mentioned authorities staff are grappling with rising costs whereas getting the identical salaries that they had in 2008.
“They’re fed up,” she mentioned.
Many public workers work one or two extra jobs to make ends meet.
Carlos Javier Vázquez, for one, is a paramedic within the mountain city of Barranquitas, and he additionally teaches emergency drugs and operates an ambulance firm to assist help his spouse and 4 kids. It is a life that’s exhausting and never sustainable, he mentioned.
However with paramedics in Puerto Rico incomes a base wage of $1,725 a month, he mentioned he has no alternative. “It’s extraordinarily troublesome to outlive on that.”
In an try to quell the demonstrations, the governor promised lecturers a $1,000 month-to-month improve simply days after 70% of them walked out of their lecture rooms in protest earlier this month. He expanded the provide to high school principals, regional superintendents and others simply days later.
Shortly afterward, he promised a $500 month-to-month improve for firefighters and a 30% increase for paramedics.
Pierluisi’s actions solely fanned anger amongst different authorities workers, with some demanding their very own pay will increase as others fume over the governor’s current remark that nobody is pressured to change into a firefighter or police officer.
An issue is that each one these will increase promised by Pierluisi depend on federal funds that expire in upcoming years, and many individuals didn’t consider the governor when he promised to search out native funds to make the will increase everlasting.
That promise additionally nervous economists as Puerto Rican leaders attempt to restructure a $70 billion public debt following many years of mismanagement, corruption and extreme borrowing that pressured the federal government to declare the most important municipal chapter in U.S. historical past in 2017, simply months earlier than Hurricane Maria battered the island.
“It’s extremely irresponsible,” mentioned Antonio Fernós, a Puerto Rico economist and college professor who believes the federal government is unable to make the will increase everlasting. “It’s Public Finance 101 of what to not do.”
Fernós mentioned one of many key issues that made the federal government go bankrupt was to make use of short-term funding for fastened prices.
“They actually haven’t realized their lesson but,” he mentioned. “Puerto Rico is the poster baby for presidency funds mismanagement. That is the worst timing for all wage earners.”
Rivera, the poverty researcher, agreed, saying no wage improve needs to be licensed with out having a monetary coverage in place. She added that the governor shouldn’t handle affairs by responding to yelling.
“He has opened Pandora’s field,” she mentioned. “He can not meet all of the demand that he himself generated.”
Pierluisi’s announcement got here simply weeks after the federal management board that oversees Puerto Rico’s funds permitted a fiscal plan that contained smaller pay will increase for lecturers, firefighters and different workers. It mentioned the federal government’s monetary state didn’t enable for extra.
The governor has mentioned a brand new compensation plan will go into impact subsequent yr and produce greater wages for hundreds of public workers, but he additionally says he will not have the ability to increase the pay of all public staff.
“I clearly can not please everybody,” he mentioned Wednesday. “That’s unattainable.”
That very same day, he introduced a 30% pay improve for dispatchers and medical emergency technicians together with paramedics. On Thursday, he introduced a $500 month-to-month improve for jail officers.
And whereas economists are warning in regards to the lack of financing, union leaders say the promised will increase are solely a great first step. They are saying extra is required and complain that the federal government is slicing pension advantages and elevating the retirement age.
Wanda Ramos, a particular schooling instructor in Caguas, mentioned the pension she is to get upon retirement is being minimize from $2,400 a month to $960. She mentioned she struggles now after not getting a increase in 12 years.
“I can solely purchase the necessities. I by no means have a full fridge,” Ramos mentioned, including {that a} hefty portion of her wage goes to paying her daughter’s faculty schooling.
Migdalia Santiago, who can be a particular schooling instructor, mentioned she faces related struggles.
“Pay the lights, you don’t pay water,” she mentioned.
Public faculty lecturers in Puerto Rico earn a base wage of $1,750 a month and are demanding a minimal of $3,500. In the meantime, firefighters earn a base wage of $1,500 a month and are in search of $2,500 and an improved pension plan.
Union chief José Tirado mentioned firefighters beforehand might retire at age 55 after 30 years of service with as much as 75% of their wage. Now, the minimal retirement age is 58 and so they get solely 33% of their wage, he mentioned.
“The standard of life, with these salaries they earn, is a distress,” Tirado mentioned.
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