SPU demands government stop charging decreed days off to public employees' vacation time
The union representing public servants rejected the use of vacation balances for days off on Nov. 20, 25 and Dec. 24 announced by Gov. Jenniffer González Colón and called the practice unfair and unilateral.
PhotoThe short version
- Servidores Públicos Unidos (SPU) demanded on Wednesday that the government stop charging decreed days off to employees' vacation balances, El Nuevo Día reported
- The union called the measure 'forced vacations' and said days off not previously planned should be granted without using any leave, according to El Vocero
- SPU president Jessica Martínez Santos stated that vacation days are a right for workers to plan according to their needs, not government convenience
- The governor's announcement gives days off on Nov. 20, Nov. 25 and Dec. 24 charged to vacation, while Nov. 27 and the afternoon of Dec. 31 are without charge, El Vocero reported
Union rejects vacation charge for days off
The union Servidores Públicos Unidos (SPU) demanded on Wednesday that the government of Puerto Rico rectify the practice of decreeing days off charged to employees' vacation leave. The demand follows the announcement by Gov. Jenniffer González Colón that public employees would not work on Nov. 20, Nov. 25 and Dec. 24, with those dates charged to their vacation balances. El Nuevo Día reported that the union considers the action a unilateral and unjust use of workers' rest days.
El Vocero reported that the governor announced five days off during the end-of-year festivities. Of these, three will be charged to vacation while Nov. 27 and the afternoon of Dec. 31 will be granted without charge to license. SPU president Jessica Martínez Santos questioned Executive Order 2026-055, which sets the three dates as days off charged to the vacation balance of Executive Branch workers. The union warned it will take pertinent measures if the government does not reconsider.
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What the sources posted
Posts and statements below are the sources' own words, quoted as published. They are not independently verified.
Los días de vacaciones son un derecho adquirido, destinado a que los trabajadores puedan planificar su descanso y tiempo en familia según sus propias necesidades y conveniencia, no según la conveniencia administrativa del gobierno
Our translation: Vacation days are an acquired right, intended for workers to plan their rest and family time according to their own needs and convenience, not according to the administrative convenience of the government
The source's own statement, as quoted by El Nuevo Día. Not verified by PuertoRico.com.
Workers should decide on vacation use
Martínez Santos said in a written statement that vacation days are an acquired right for workers to plan their rest and family time according to their own needs and convenience, not according to the administrative convenience of the government. She added that if the government wishes to recognize the importance of Thanksgiving and Christmas festivities, it should grant these days without charge to any license. El Vocero reported the union views the measure as an imposition that limits employees' ability to decide when to use their accumulated rest time.
The union leader emphasized that the practice of controlling when public employees use their vacation license according to government need has been repetitive and should be eradicated. She stated that employees should not be forced to sacrifice their vacations or salary due to a unilateral decision. According to the directives from the Oficina de Administración y Transformación de los Recursos Humanos (OATRH), employees without sufficient vacation balance or who wish to work those dates must consult their agency's human resources office. Agency heads must ensure continuity of essential services.
Where the sources differ
Both El Nuevo Día and El Vocero reported the same core facts on the SPU demand, the identity of union president Jessica Martínez Santos, and nearly identical quotes from her statements rejecting the charging of vacation days. El Nuevo Día noted that Thanksgiving is celebrated this year on Nov. 26 and referenced a La Fortaleza communiqué on the purpose of the days. El Vocero provided the specific Executive Order number 2026-055, mentioned the five days total with two without charge to license, and included details from OATRH guidelines on employees without balances and the need for essential services continuity. The two El Vocero links contain substantially the same article text.
What the reports do not say
The reports do not state the total number of public employees affected, whether other unions have taken a position on the executive order, the exact cost to the government of granting the days without charging vacation or salary, or what specific measures SPU will take if its demand is not met. They also do not indicate whether the governor or La Fortaleza has responded to the union's statements issued on Wednesday.
Sources
Every link below was opened and checked when this story was published. Official means a government body, agency or the organization itself; Reporting means a news outlet.
- Reporting SPU exige que los días libres decretados por el gobierno no se descuenten de las vacaciones
- Reporting Servidores públicos exigen eliminar los días de vacaciones obligatorias para empleados públicos
How we checked this
El Nuevo Día and El Vocero both covered the Servidores Públicos Unidos demand issued on Wednesday, Oct. 21. The details on the executive order, the specific dates, the OATRH guidelines and the five days total rest exclusively on the El Vocero account, while the union's characterization of the practice as repetitive appears in both.
Compiled by the PuertoRico.com News Desk from the reports and statements listed above, and checked against them before publishing. It does not include original interviews. Spot an error? Email support@puertorico.com with a link to this story.