Puerto Rico

UTIER, Independent Puerto Rican Electrical Trade Union Fighting US Neoliberal Privatization

November 14, 2022 UNAC Editor Austerity, Capitalism, Colonialism, Labor Struggles, Lawfare, Puerto Rico

Statement by Jeanette Graulau, published on Labor Today, November 2022 While some Western countries are planning to re-nationalize their energy industries, the U.S. imposes upon its colony of Puerto Rico a privatization plan to ‘unbundle’ the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA), one of the oldest and fully operational electric power corporations of Latin America. Since 2020, LUMA Energy, a[…]

The Anti-Racist Manifesto of Colectiva Feminista En Construcción, 2020

September 25, 2022 UNAC Editor Puerto Rico, Socialism, Socio-Economic Struggles, Women

by Editors, The Black Agenda Review, September 21, 2022 The Anti-Racist Manifesto of Puerto Rico’s Colectiva Feminista en Construcción (La Cole) outlines a radical solution to capitalism, colonialism, and climate change. Natural disasters are also catastrophes of colonialism and neoliberalism. Take, for instance, Hurricane Fiona. A category 1 hurricane that made landfall on Puerto Rico on September 18th, Fiona knocked[…]

A Union Worker’s Perspective From Puerto Rico

November 14, 2021 UNAC Editor Colonialism, Labor, Labor Struggles, Puerto Rico

by Walberto Rolón, published on Workers World, November 12, 2021 I began lineman training in 1989 – a chance that for many of Puerto Rico’s youth is nigh impossible unless you are favored by some political faction. [Puerto Rico’s main union for electrical workers is UTIER, the Unión de Trabajadores de la Industria Eléctrica y Riego (Electrical Industry and Irrigation[…]

Puerto Ricans Resist Austerity Measures and Corporate Corruption

November 12, 2021 UNAC Editor Abuses of Empire, Puerto Rico

By Monica Cruz, published on Peoples Dispatch, October 20, 2021 On October 15, protestors shut down Puerto Rico’s Highway 18 in the capital San Juan chanting “Fuera Luma!”, our “Out Luma”, demanding an end to the government contract with the private energy company, Luma Energy. Their cries were echoed at protests on the same day in New York City, Miami and Philadelphia.[…]

Puerto Ricans Protest Undistributed 2017 Supplies Unearthed by 2020 Quakes

February 7, 2020 UNAC Editor Austerity, Government Corruption, Poverty, Protest, Puerto Rico

By Betsey Piette posted on Workers World, January 29, 2020 Still grappling with the aftermath of devastating earthquakes, Puerto Ricans reacted with protests when they learned Jan. 19 that massive amounts of vital material aid have been warehoused since 2017. The aid arrived after two major hurricanes struck the Puerto Rican archipelago that year. The donated aid included generators, emergency[…]

Puerto Rico: Three Years for History

January 11, 2020 UNAC Editor Neocolonialism, Puerto Rico

By José E. Rivera Santana, published on Resumen, January 9, 2020 This comprehensive article on contemporary Puerto Rico was written just before a devastating 6.4 earthquake hit Puerto Rico on January 7 knocking out power to a half-million people and leaving thousands homeless. Trump, however, didn’t even blink as he pushed more resources and military personal towards war against Iran.[…]

Interview: Rising Hopes for Puerto Rican Independence

September 30, 2019 UNAC Editor Caribbean, Interview, Puerto Rico, Resistance

By Ernie Gotta, Published on Socialist Action, August 27, 2019 “Every day, folks now more than ever wake up daily with a new notion of politics that is not bound to a vote every four years but to direct action.” The recent protests in Puerto Rico, taken in the context of uprisings across the globe in Sudan, Hong Kong, and[…]

Puerto Rico strike: Twelve days rattle the empire

August 3, 2019 UNAC Editor Caribbean, Puerto Rico, Resistance

By Makasi Motema posted on Workers World, July 30, 2019 Thousands crowded in front of the governor’s mansion — La Fortaleza — as riot cops, armed to the teeth, locked shields. “The Fortress” was under siege. Here and there, the night sky was aglow with the amber light of distant flames. For 12 days, protesters stormed barricades and braved fusillades[…]

Puerto Rico Rises Up

July 28, 2019 UNAC Editor Capitalism, Caribbean, Puerto Rico

by Jason Cohen, published on Workers World, July 23, 2019 The souls of Puerto Ricans everywhere should burn with indignation as they read through the text messages by Gov. Ricardo Rossello and members of his administration written in a group chat. On July 13, the Center for Investigative Journalism in Puerto Rico published 900 pages of the messages. The contents[…]

Hurricane of Colonialism Ravages Puerto Rico

May 9, 2019 UNAC Editor Abuses of Empire, Neocolonialism, Puerto Rico

Photo: Blue tarps cover damaged roofs in San Juan, Puerto Rico seen from above on March 4, 2018 ~Lorie Shaull By Makasi Motema posted on Workers World, April 16, 2019 When a hurricane smashes into an island, it destroys everything in its path and carries the remains out to sea. But hurricane damage is trivial compared to the devastation caused[…]