Puerto Rico Teachers Vote Again to Affiliate with AFT

SAN JUAN—With 98 percent of Asociación de Maestros de Puerto Rico delegates voting affirmatively to ratify their affiliation with the American Federation of Teachers, the AMPR and the AFT renewed their partnership today.

AMPR President Aida Diaz said: "The support we have received from the AFT and its thousands of affiliated locals has strengthened us. We are grateful for the alliance that we have formed to save public education and our teachers."

AFT President Randi Weingarten said: “One year ago, we made a promise to stand together and fight together. This vote to affirm our affiliation demonstrates the strength of our union and of the AMPR and the AFT’s partnership. It’s a vote for kids and educators, for public schools and communities that are fighting both to recover from the hurricanes and to oppose those—like Puerto Rico Education Secretary Julia Keleher, Gov. Ricardo Rossello and U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos—who have used the hurricanes as an excuse to attack public schools and workers’ wages and benefits.

“We have a message for them: Basta Ya! Together, the AMPR and the AFT will continue to care, fight and show up for a better life for the people of Puerto Rico. And now, with the vote to affirm affiliation, we have another sign that, in the post-Janus world, our members are sticking with our union. We are one, and we will not rest until justice is served in Puerto Rico.”

AMPR and the AFT first voted to affiliate one year ago today, when 40,000 Puerto Rico educators joined the union.