Countering Propaganda in Puerto Rico
Before prison privatization catches on and spreads throughout Puerto Rico, Servidores Públicos Unidos (SPU)/ AFSCME is undertaking a vocal campaign to keep the process at bay.
At the Corrections Summit of the Americas last September, government leaders from about 20 Latin American nations met on the island to discuss their corrections systems and recommend improvements. Puerto Rico’s outgoing Gov. Pedro Rosselló praised prison privatization and told the delegation that his country is saving $14 million by implementing it. The island currently has four private prisons: Corrections Corporation of America (CCA) manages three, Wackenhut Corrections Corporation the fourth. There are plans to privatize a women’s prison and a minimum-security facility, both in Rio Grande.
Although privateers staged the corrections summit, AFSCME stole the spotlight. International staffers Mike Marette and Joshua Miller spent three days countering the governor’s claims and reminding the assembly of CCA’s severe financial woes, which have pushed the company to the edge of bankruptcy. They also exposed the hidden costs of private prisons to taxpayers. The union dominated the headlines in the local press and managed to sway numerous privatization proponents.
SPU now has embarked on a grassroots campaign to prevent widespread privatization. Using the summit meeting as a springboard, the union is flooding legislators with information about the perils of prison privatization: poor staff training, greater danger of inmate escapes, low pay and morale, high turnover rate of employees and ineffective rehabilitation for inmates. Activists also have hit the streets of Rio Grande to inform the local community about the government’s plan to privatize the women’s and minimum-security facilities.
The ACU and SPU have inspired COs to take action, and are awaiting word from the Public Employee Relations Board to begin organizing. At present, none of Puerto Rico’s COs have the benefits of union representation.
“We have had meetings with all of the corrections officers from across the island, talking about the problems of privatization and how to prevent it,” says Benjamin Borges, lead organizer for the corrections campaign. “The COs agreed to write a letter to the incoming governor and all legislators asking them to support us against privatization. We want the opportunity to talk to the governor and see if she really appreciates the political support from corrections officers.”
As for privatization saving money in Puerto Rico, Borges suggests that the state’s corrections administration isn’t being truthful about the budget. “We have been looking at the budget, and we have found some costs the department isn’t considering when managing private prisons,” he says. “But they’re not telling legislators the truth — and they’re not managing the prisons properly.”
