07/11/98 3:43 PM
The Greater Committee of Labor Organizations (CAOS), the organization which coordinates the struggle of the telephone workers and the people of Puerto Rico against the sale and privatization of the telephone company, issued a call to the people this afternoon to step up the struggle. As we reported earlier, the movement was at a crossroads, facing negotiations with the government and the Puerto Rico Telephone Company, and the need to resume the offensive after the successful 48 hour general strike of July 7-8, 1998.
Earlier the press had reported that the leadership of CAOS had implied that the telephone workers were returning to work. However, after thorough discussions at the meeting which began at 9 am this morning, the telephone workers' will to remain on strike was confirmed. The work plan presented by José Valentín, president of the electrical workers union (UTIER), states: "we reaffirm that our position and aims are correct and that the government of Puerto Rico is totally disarticulated, ambivalent, and without clear direction."
Among the outstanding points of the work-plan is the proposal for another Delegate Assembly of all the 60 unions that make up the CAOS to consider another General Strike, possibly in the month of August. In addition, there will be protests at all work-places and short, sporadic work stoppages.
The struggle against the privatization of the phone company will be linked to the situation in the health industry, where the policies of privatization have shown their failure. Yesterday, one sub-regional hospital in Humacao and three health clinics in Naguabo, Yabucoa and Las Piedras closed down when the private company that owns them could not continue to manage them. The situation of the employees is uncertain.
The existing regional committees of the Greater Committee of Labor Organizations will strengthen their work and new regional committees were formed to enhance the participation of greater numbers of people.
Automobile caravans and protests in important shopping malls are among the activities planned for mobilization and propaganda. A fund-raising radio-broadcast will be organized to collect funds for the strikers.
In choosing the path of struggle, the CAOS is honoring the slogan which has prevailed during the Strike of the People:
¡Lucha SI, Entrega NO!