Federal appeals court asked to rule in favor of Puerto Rico's working families, reverse district court

Boston, MA -- More than 28,000 working families throughout Puerto Rico may now have an opportunity to make their case heard in an appeal of Republican Governor Luis Fortuno's massive layoffs. The layoffs have increased Puerto Rico's unemployment rate -- from 15 percent to 18 percent -- further destabilizing a Commonwealth experiencing one of the worst fiscal crises of the fifty states and United States territories.

Governor Luis Fortuno enacted Law 7 in a two-day period in July of 2008. He then invoked the law in 2009, effectively firing 28,000 employees across all sectors of public services without demonstrating any alternative solutions or proving financial necessity. As a direct result of Law 7, thousands of working people in Puerto Rico have lost their livelihoods while the Commonwealth's citizens have endured a dramatic loss of essential services.

Prior to today, we were not given the opportunity to present any evidence of the many alternatives the Fortuno administration had before laying off thousands of working women and men," said counsel Manuel Rodriquez Banchs. "Now these families will have the opportunity to see justice served."

Lead plaintiffs of the appeal are the Central Federation of Workers (UFCW), the Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU), the Service Employees International Union SPT 1996 (SEIU), and the United Auto Workers (UAW).

"This is a very important day for the working women and men throughout Puerto Rico who strive to make their Commonwealth and their communities a better place to live. We are hopeful that these worker's rights under the U.S. Constitution will be upheld," said Banchs.

Additional Media Contact:

To speak with a worker in Puerto Rico affected by the layoffs, please contact Manolo Coss at manolo.coss@gmail.com.

With 2.2 million members in Canada, the United States and Puerto Rico, SEIU is the fastest-growing union in the Americas. Focused on uniting workers in healthcare, public services and property services, SEIU members are winning better wages, healthcare and more secure jobs for our communities, while uniting their strength with their counterparts around the world to help ensure that workers--not just corporations and CEOs--benefit from today's global economy.

###