Judge reverses 6 more WIPR layoffs
By MANUEL ERNESTO RIVERA
The Associated Press
Puerto Rico Public Broadcasting Corporation President Israel “Ray” Cruz suffered another judicial setback when San Juan Superior Judge Rebecca de León revoked the dismissal of six more management employees.
The judge ruled in favor of the plaintiffs – Aníbal Arroyo, Jennifer Blest, Rosa Orengo, Ada Norely, Samuel Maldonado and Lourdes Matos — because they were not notified of their layoffs according to law. The decision is similar to that issued in the cases of WIPR information chief Hortensia Ramos, production supervisor Brenda del Valle and news manager Ivone Molini.
Like in that case, it is “clear” that “the dismissal notifications for the plaintiffs [were] defective, in that they were referred to the Corporation’s Appeals Committee. This entity, in virtue of the Corporation’s own personnel regulation for career management employees, does not have the authority to review the decision of the Board of Directors which approved the dismissal plan,” De León said in her sentence of Nov. 5, which was made public Wednesday. “Therefore it is ordered that the defendant leave the dismissals of the plaintiffs without effect.”
In early August, Cruz dismissed 53 employees, including unionized workers and managers.
According to the collective bargaining agreement between WIPR and the Workers General Union, if the matter was not resolved the dismissals will take effect 60 days after the notification, or around Tuesday of this week.
Although WIPR does not fall under the dismissals under fiscal emergency Law 7, Cruz has said the station had $5 million cut from its budget, leaving it unable to pay all its employees.
The Legislature approved a budget of around $19 million, compared to $24 million the previous fiscal year.
The Associated Press
Puerto Rico Public Broadcasting Corporation President Israel “Ray” Cruz suffered another judicial setback when San Juan Superior Judge Rebecca de León revoked the dismissal of six more management employees.
The judge ruled in favor of the plaintiffs – Aníbal Arroyo, Jennifer Blest, Rosa Orengo, Ada Norely, Samuel Maldonado and Lourdes Matos — because they were not notified of their layoffs according to law. The decision is similar to that issued in the cases of WIPR information chief Hortensia Ramos, production supervisor Brenda del Valle and news manager Ivone Molini.
Like in that case, it is “clear” that “the dismissal notifications for the plaintiffs [were] defective, in that they were referred to the Corporation’s Appeals Committee. This entity, in virtue of the Corporation’s own personnel regulation for career management employees, does not have the authority to review the decision of the Board of Directors which approved the dismissal plan,” De León said in her sentence of Nov. 5, which was made public Wednesday. “Therefore it is ordered that the defendant leave the dismissals of the plaintiffs without effect.”
In early August, Cruz dismissed 53 employees, including unionized workers and managers.
According to the collective bargaining agreement between WIPR and the Workers General Union, if the matter was not resolved the dismissals will take effect 60 days after the notification, or around Tuesday of this week.
Although WIPR does not fall under the dismissals under fiscal emergency Law 7, Cruz has said the station had $5 million cut from its budget, leaving it unable to pay all its employees.
The Legislature approved a budget of around $19 million, compared to $24 million the previous fiscal year.
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