The Early Development of the Organized Labor Movement In Puerto Rico

Abstract

In this section, two important tendencies that have helped to shape the current situation in Puerto Rico are examined. Miles Galvin examines the role of the American Federation of Labor in the early development of the Puerto Rican labor movement. He analyzes the changing thrust and militancy of labor unions in Puerto Rico and offers an interpretation for the early conservativism of organized labor. Galvin, on leave from the Labor Relations Institute at the University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras, is currently at the Graduate School of Education, Rutgers University. Manuel Maldonado-Denis's contribution looks at Puerto Rican nationalism and considers its particular nature in contrast to Latin American nationalism in general. The article also briefly examines the impact of nationalism on political parties in Puerto Rico, especially the independ ence parties. Maldonado-Denis, author of the well-known Puerto Rico: A Socio-Historic Interpre tation,is a member of the Department of Political Science, University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras. His paper was presented at a seminar, The Crisis of the World Economic System and the Pros pects for Latin American Nationalism, in Venezuela, May 10-14, 1976. It has been translated by the editors of Latin American Perspectives.