USW, UEPI Affiliation Empowers Workers in Puerto Rico

Contact: Yaphet Torres, ytorres@usw.org, 787-780-0885

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(San Juan, Puerto Rico) – The United Steelworkers (USW) today announced an affiliation with the Unión de Empleados Profesionales Independiente (UEPI) that gives workers in Puerto Rico’s power-generation industry even greater bargaining power. 
 
The USW has a strong record of helping professional and energy-industry workers across North America win strong contracts. Now, the USW will provide the same support to UEPI members who serve in various professional roles, including instrument technician, construction inspector and civil engineer, at the Autoridad de Energía Eléctrica (AEE), the utility producing electricity for Puerto Rico. 
 
The affiliation will ensure that UEPI members have a seat at the table as the government looks to privatize power generation on the island. 
 
“We’re proud to welcome these workers into our union family,” said USW District 4 Director Del Vitale, who leads tens of thousands of USW members in nine Northeastern states and Puerto Rico. 
 
“UEPI members provide critical services that keep Puerto Rico functioning, and they’ve earned family-sustaining wages and fair treatment,” added Vitale. “Their fight is now the USW’s fight. We stand with UEPI members in steadfast solidarity.” 
 
UEPI requested the affiliation because of the USW’s effective representation of professional workers, including municipal government and media workers in Puerto Rico, as well as the union’s successful bargaining for members in the atomic, electric, natural gas, oil, solar and wind industries. 
 
“We are very excited to achieve the affiliation of our union with the United Steelworkers,” said Miguel Cruz, president of UEPI. “We know about the work they have achieved representing thousands of workers in the energy sector. Without a doubt, this will be a great benefit for our membership.” 
 
The USW represents 850,000 men and women employed in metals, mining, pulp and paper, rubber, chemicals, glass, auto supply and the energy-producing industries, along with a growing number of workers in public sector and service occupations.

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United Steelworkers
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