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Puerto Rican Telecom Strikers Vote CWA
A 56-day strike for decent wages and benefits, regular employee status and union recognition has led to CWA representation for more than 400 telecom installers working for subcontractors for the GTE-owned Puerto Rico Telephone Company.
Installers for three PRTC/GTE subcontractors have won recognition for their newly formed Unión de Trabajadores de las Communicaciones (UTC/CWA). Workers at a fourth subcontractor are still on strike.
Through a back-to-work agreement the new union has already made progress toward ending exploitation by subcontractors of PRTC. For more than two decades the companies have treated their individual workers as independent contractors rather than employees, avoiding all responsibility for providing benefits or paying taxes. PRTC was acquired by GTE just last year.
“The installers in Puerto Rico have shown incredible determination to win union representation,” said Executive Vice President Larry Cohen. “This is a signal that old fashioned solidarity still works when workers are faced with pay cuts and no real voice on the job.”
The installers went on strike Feb. 21 at all four companies — almost stopping installation work by PRTC on the entire island — when the companies in unison cut the rate paid per installation nearly in half. The installers worked as independent subcontractors with no health benefits or pensions, said Eduardo Díaz, CWA international affairs director and administrative assistant to Cohen. Because the companies paid no Social Security or workers’ compensation, the installers worked with no protection against injury or layoff.
When the installers sought help in organizing, Puerto Rico’s Independent Union of Telephone Workers and its president, José Juan Hernández, put them in touch with CWA.
Their struggle was “very difficult,” said Angelo Andújar, an installer at JAF Communications and a key organizer among the installers at all four companies. “We went on strike with two days’ notice. Because CWA helped us, we were able to hold solid on the street.”
Strikers set up picket lines at 14 locations, chanting slogans and painting them on banners and car windows: “Huelga. Protesta. Ni una Instalacion Mas (Strike. Protest. No More Installations.)”
Inside committee members took the lead: Edwin Gonzales in the city of Aguadilla; Arcenio Feliciano in Mayaguez; Adrian Vasquez, Vega Baja; and Santos Ramos, Arecibo.
The installers met regularly among themselves, discussing strategy with Díaz and AFL-CIO Representative Jimmy Torres. Led by Andújar and George Rodríquez, an installer for Bermudez & Longo, they pressured the companies for voluntary recognition, maintained picket lines and held rallies, often facing tense confrontations with strike breakers.
A breakthrough came April 18 when 130 installers at Bermudez & Longo won voluntary recognition. Their back-to-work agreement granted them full employee status and included union recognition, increased pay rates, Social Security coverage, and a written agreement to bargain.
Meanwhile, under pressure from the workers, a second company, JAF Communications, agreed to hold a National Labor Relations Board election April 28. Despite an anti-union campaign by the company, the workers prevailed with a landslide 104-1 vote.
A second NLRB election was held May 4 at Central Teleconstruction Inc., and once again, the installers had their day with a 36-13 victory.
Twenty-five installers are still on strike against a fourth PRTC/GTE subcontractor, EMEC. The company has refused a return-to-work offer by the installers, Diaz said. An NLRB hearing was held May 11 to look at unfair labor practice charges filed by CWA. A determination from the NLRB is pending. The workers remain on strike.
Installers for three PRTC/GTE subcontractors have won recognition for their newly formed Unión de Trabajadores de las Communicaciones (UTC/CWA). Workers at a fourth subcontractor are still on strike.
Through a back-to-work agreement the new union has already made progress toward ending exploitation by subcontractors of PRTC. For more than two decades the companies have treated their individual workers as independent contractors rather than employees, avoiding all responsibility for providing benefits or paying taxes. PRTC was acquired by GTE just last year.
“The installers in Puerto Rico have shown incredible determination to win union representation,” said Executive Vice President Larry Cohen. “This is a signal that old fashioned solidarity still works when workers are faced with pay cuts and no real voice on the job.”
The installers went on strike Feb. 21 at all four companies — almost stopping installation work by PRTC on the entire island — when the companies in unison cut the rate paid per installation nearly in half. The installers worked as independent subcontractors with no health benefits or pensions, said Eduardo Díaz, CWA international affairs director and administrative assistant to Cohen. Because the companies paid no Social Security or workers’ compensation, the installers worked with no protection against injury or layoff.
When the installers sought help in organizing, Puerto Rico’s Independent Union of Telephone Workers and its president, José Juan Hernández, put them in touch with CWA.
Their struggle was “very difficult,” said Angelo Andújar, an installer at JAF Communications and a key organizer among the installers at all four companies. “We went on strike with two days’ notice. Because CWA helped us, we were able to hold solid on the street.”
Strikers set up picket lines at 14 locations, chanting slogans and painting them on banners and car windows: “Huelga. Protesta. Ni una Instalacion Mas (Strike. Protest. No More Installations.)”
Inside committee members took the lead: Edwin Gonzales in the city of Aguadilla; Arcenio Feliciano in Mayaguez; Adrian Vasquez, Vega Baja; and Santos Ramos, Arecibo.
The installers met regularly among themselves, discussing strategy with Díaz and AFL-CIO Representative Jimmy Torres. Led by Andújar and George Rodríquez, an installer for Bermudez & Longo, they pressured the companies for voluntary recognition, maintained picket lines and held rallies, often facing tense confrontations with strike breakers.
A breakthrough came April 18 when 130 installers at Bermudez & Longo won voluntary recognition. Their back-to-work agreement granted them full employee status and included union recognition, increased pay rates, Social Security coverage, and a written agreement to bargain.
Meanwhile, under pressure from the workers, a second company, JAF Communications, agreed to hold a National Labor Relations Board election April 28. Despite an anti-union campaign by the company, the workers prevailed with a landslide 104-1 vote.
A second NLRB election was held May 4 at Central Teleconstruction Inc., and once again, the installers had their day with a 36-13 victory.
Twenty-five installers are still on strike against a fourth PRTC/GTE subcontractor, EMEC. The company has refused a return-to-work offer by the installers, Diaz said. An NLRB hearing was held May 11 to look at unfair labor practice charges filed by CWA. A determination from the NLRB is pending. The workers remain on strike.