Puerto Rican student struggle continues as government undermines strike pact
2010Clay Wadena 2010-07Read it in the scan (PDF at ETOL), page 7 →
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Students at University of Puerto Rico (UPR) led a 60-day occupation and strike this spring against austerity measures. The action spread to 10 of the 11 UPR campuses and eventually forced not only the temporary closure of the entire UPR system but the capitulation of the administration to the students’ main demands, at least temporarily.
The strike ended June 21, and students at all 11 campuses democratically ratified the agreement that was negotiated with the school administration. But the UPR Board of Trustees and the government are already on the attack—taking steps to reintroduce many of the same measures that were rejected.
The students’ high level of organization and resilience against a university administration that tried to make the students and faculty pay for the system’s budget shortfall should be an excellent example and inspiration to all students who face similar measures. Governments and administrations around the world are seeking to cut education funds and raise rates— portraying these measures as necessary evils because of the economic recession.
The students at UPR have shown that students can lead a fightback that includes faculty, university employees, and friendly unions to defend the right of education.
The action was first called by a democratic meeting of over 3000 students who assembled on the Río Piedras campus April 21 to begin a two-day occupation of the campus to force the administration to negotiate in good faith. When the administration refused to do Ricardo Arduengo / AP (Above) Riot police attack students outside the Capitol building in San Juan, P.R., June 30.
rally outside the Capitol building. They used clubs and pepper spray, severely injuring dozens.
The conservative governor of Puerto Rico is Luis Fortuño, who has pushed through notorious antiworker legislation like “Law 7,” which fired many workers to close the budget deficit. His pursuit of austerity measures that pay for the capitalist recession by punishing workers and students has now led to massive government intervention into university affairs at UPR.
Some campuses seem to have been aware of the treachery they faced even when they saw the wording of the negotiated agreement that was signed, and only conditionally ratified the agreement because they did not want their support for the agreement to be misconstrued as acceptance of tuition hikes in January for spring semester.
Despite the governmen’s attempts to overturn the agreement, the students achieved a real victory. They demonstrated their determination, seriousness, and organizational capability when defending their right to education. They have secured allies in their struggle locally and internationally and made it crystal clear that they will have a hand in determining their future.
They’ve provided a useful example for all of those who believe that students and workers shouldn’t have to pay for the capitalist crisis. With the same resolve and more support from labor on the island, there is no limit to what they can achieve. n