FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, April 27, 2009

CONTACT: Roberto Pagan
939-645-3965

"The Fiscal Stabilization Plan that Gov. Fortuño seeks to implement in Puerto Rico will have devastating consequences throughout the Island, not only for the 30,000 workers whose jobs will be eliminated but also for every Puerto Rican who relies on critical services provided by the state government. Rather than solve the current fiscal challenge, the Stabilization Plan may lead to a deeper recession and increased unemployment and thereby create new social and economic problems that will negatively impact the Puerto Rican people and must be stopped.

"The AFL-CIO and Change to Win strongly oppose privatization of vital public services and call on the Governor to ensure that collective bargaining and other labor rights for workers are protected.  We, together with the Puerto Rico locals in our federations, are willing to work with the Administration to help solve the crisis if the Governor is open to modifying the Plan to prevent what we believe to be the destructive effects that Public Law 7 and privatization would have on all working families in Puerto Rico.  This economic crisis cannot and must not be solved on the backs of Puerto Rican workers.  These workers are already bearing a disproportionate burden and, quite frankly, are the best hope for solving the crisis."

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About Change to Win
Change to Win is a 5.5-million member partnership of five unions founded in 2005 to represent workers in the industries and occupations of the 21st century economy. Change to Win is committed to restoring the American Dream for a new generation of workers – wages that can support a family, affordable health care, a secure retirement, and the opportunity for the future. The affiliated unions are: Service Employees International Union, United Food and Commercial Workers International Union, International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Laborers' International Union of North America, and United Farm Workers of America.