University of Puerto Rico strikes, 2017
The 2017 University of Puerto Rico strikes were a series of student strikes which began on the March 28, 2017, when the university's campus at Rio Piedras declared a one-week shutdown, from the 28th of March to the 5th of April followed by an indefinite strike, which began on the 6th of April. The strikes come as a response to a budget cut of 450 million dollars to the public university system, proposed by the controversial Puerto Rico Oversight, Management, and Economic Stability Act.[1]
| 2017 University of Puerto Rico strikes | |
|---|---|
| Date | March 28, 2017 - June 7, 2017 |
| Location | 18°24′10″N 66°3′1″W |
| Caused by | University budget cuts |
| Methods | University wide strikes |
| Status | Ended |
A national assembly, which took place on the 5th of April, was attended by 10 of the 11 campuses, the University High School, the Conservatory of Music of Puerto Rico, and the Escuela de Artes Plásticas y Diseño de Puerto Rico. They voted in favor of an indefinite systemwide strike, which began on April 6. However, the systemwide strike affected 8 of the 11 campuses immediately, as 3 campuses attending the assembly had not reached the required amount of attendants for their votes to be counted.[2] Despite this, each of these campuses held individual assemblies which saw them vote in favor of going on strike, both indefinitely and definitely.
The strike ended on June 7, 2017, when the last remaining campus still on strike, Humacao, voted during an assembly to end their shutdown.
References
- Pacheco, Istra. "Decretan paro y huelga en la UPR". Primera Hora. Retrieved 29 March 2017.
- Darmy Cortes (April 25, 2017). "The University of Puerto Rico Student Strike, Explained". Pasquines. Retrieved April 28, 2017.