The governor of Puerto Rico, Pedro Pierluisi, announced this Monday a salary increase of $1,000 per month for teachers in the public system with money from federal funds, after the great protests carried out by the teachers.
This salary increase will begin to be applied in July of this year, when the teachers rthey will receive 765 dollars more than the 235 already approved in the fiscal plan, reaching the 1,000 dollars mentioned, explained Pierluisi at a press conference.
Additionally, beginning January 1, 2023, instead of the approved raise of $470, teachers will be given other 530 from federal funds to also reach the announced figure.
The governor indicated that the money to cover that difference will come from the Emergency Relief Fund for Elementary and Secondary Schools (Esser, for its acronym in English).
Teachers of the National Union of Educators protest to demand payment of salaries
“We have managed to identify federal Esser funds forto provide incentive payments to the master class. These payments will supplement the increase in salaries from state funds that has already been approved,” he added.
The objective is, according to Pierrluisi, that this be “a temporary measure” in which recurring state funds are identified “to make it permanent.”
The governor explained that aside from this, the central government is promoting a series of actions to get more funds and make definitive salary justice for teachers.
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“I want to be clear, protest or not protest, I have always listened to them. I respect your statements and value your claims. You can be sure that, just like in this case, I continue to work and look for alternatives to attend to the claims of our employees and our people”, he stressed.
Thousands of teachers from the public system demonstrated last Friday in San Juan to demand a salary increase and better working conditions from the government, as well as to reject the cut in pensions.
Before the governor’s announcement, the Broad Front for the Defense of Public Education (Fadep) reported Monday that it has called for new protest actions, including a march next Wednesday to Fortaleza. (I)
Source: Eluniverso
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