Teachers Strike in Puerto Rico

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, Feb. 21 -- Teachers in Puerto Rico walked off the job Thursday, paralyzing most of the island's public schools and staging protests that led to clashes between demonstrators and police.

Teachers, parents and students picketed in front of many of the commonwealth's public schools. At least two teachers were injured in the confrontations. Fourteen protesters were arrested, and several were forcefully removed by authorities as they attempted to block access to some schools.

The Puerto Rico Teachers Federation, the island's largest union, called the strike after 30 months of failed contract negotiations. The union, which represents 42,000 teachers, called the strike Wednesday after a three-day summit with government leaders -- a last effort to stop the strike -- failed to yield results.

Although there was progress, the two sides could not agree on two of the teachers' major demands: a cap on class size and the creation of teachers committees in each school that would grant them the authority to control class schedules, among other benefits.

Puerto Rico's public education system is centralized, with the state exercising almost full control over individual districts.

The strike is illegal under Puerto Rican law forbidding disruption of the public education system, but the union president, Rafael Feliciano, said it was the only option left.

"We're doing this for the good of the schools and for the future of our children. This is the only way we can get the government's attention," he said.

Feliciano said the first day of the strike had stopped classes in 90 percent of the island's 1,500 schools. But government officials said the strike shut down only 20 schools, where entrances were padlocked or otherwise obstructed.

Gov. Anibal Acevedo Vil¿ (D) reiterated the strike was illegal and called it "a failure." He insisted that parents send their kids to school.

"We will make sure that the children get an education," Acevedo Vil¿ said.