Correctional officers and other public safety professionals in Puerto Rico are celebrating after years of fighting for fair wages. More than 3,500 employees at the Department of Correction and Rehabilitation will see a significant pay increase starting Dec. 16.
Members of Servidores Públicos Unidos de Puerto Rico (SPUPR/AFSCME Council 95) have been taking sustained action to ensure they receive the wage increases that were enacted into law in 2022.
Law 91 mandated an annual raise of almost $9,000 for these professionals who keep their communities safe. However, they have been waiting for three years because of the government’s refusal to allocate this money.
“It was a fight that practically kept us up at night. Every day we were looking for strategies,” SPUPR President Jessica Martínez Santos said during a press conference. “Until the law was passed, there was no fair wage for any correctional officer or supervisor within the department.”
In early November, about 500 members of SPUPR who work in public safety roles held a massive demonstration to demand what they are owed. They marched through the streets of San Juan, calling for the government to honor its commitments to corrections officers, park rangers and pre-trial arrest agents.
Following this victory, SPUPR members remain united and ready to continue fighting for fairness and respect for the difficult work they do every day. That includes making sure that the government also funds the salary increase for park rangers that was mandated in Act 156 of 2024.
Public safety professionals are turning to AFSCME to build power at work, and advocate for safety on the job, better wages, good health care and a secure retirement. AFSCME members in corrections, law enforcement and emergency response defend our freedoms and our communities. Visit the AFSCME Public Safety website to get involved and learn more.