Last week teachers in Puerto Rico went on strike, citing multiple problems with the system such as low wages, inadequate supplies and textbooks, as well as class sizes. What is most interesting about this strike is the US involvement in it. The US is involved in two ways: first, a US union has offered its support to the governor of Puerto Rico, by offering to replace the current teachers union. Secondly there have been large demonstrations in New York City by Puerto Rican educators in front of the Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Agency.
Not only does this show that even today, with Puerto Rico’s relative independence, the US still has a strong-arm economically (in this case with controlling labor) in Puerto Rico. This also shows what Correa was taking about in chapter 7 of Between Two Nations when he talks about the political mobilization of immigrants, demonstrating the hybrid nature of immigrant politics (p. 136). These immigrants are not looking to show their support in any form of traditional political arena. Instead they are mobilizing in mass to demonstrate, and put immediate pressure on officials to make changes quickly.
http://www.alternet.org/rights/80883/
2 comments:
That is crazy that the US is offering to replace the current teachers union. I know that the Puerto Rico is part of the US but it seems that the US is only involved because they want to keep power in Puerto Rico. Puerto Ricans have to participate in hybrid policitics because they are not able to vote for national matters in the US. The Puerto Rican government seems corrupt sometimes, so they have to participate in grass root politics to put pressure on the controlling powers.
hahahaha
thats crazy...
america is crazy.
so, the US said they would work in place of the Union?
they would send in american teachers so the PR gov't doesn't have to deal w/ the Union huh...
interesting.
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