Puerto Rico-based trade unionists recently expressed strong support for the Jones Act, America’s freight cabotage law.
The AFL-CIO-affiliated Federation of Workers of Puerto Rico (FTPR) conducted its 23rd convention of delegates and election of officers in Caguas in mid-November. During the proceedings, SIU Assistant Vice President Amancio Crespo, who since 2022 has served as one of nine FTPR vice presidents, offered a pro-Jones Act resolution. The statement then was approved without opposition.

Resolution Number 8 reaffirms the statement approved at the 2022 national convention, and requests full and unconditional support for the Jones Act in Puerto Rico. The rationale for such backing includes the facts that the Jones Act helps maintain good-paying jobs in the territory and also ensures reliable cargo transportation to and from the island.
Chief Steward Jacob Parrilla, one of the delegates representing the SIU at the convention, spoke in support of the resolution, which in turn was seconded and confirmed by all the SIU delegates and everyone else in attendance.
“My table consisted of SIU members who were all delegates on our ships,” Crespo noted. “They seconded a motion that I brought to the floor requesting all the unions in Puerto Rico, all the AFL-CIO unions, and all the unions with the FTPR to fully support the Jones Act and the cabotage law for Puerto Rico, because of all the jobs that they create for Puerto Ricans residing in Puerto Rico and how important they are to the local economy. We had 100% support.”
During the convention, Crespo was re-elected for his second term in his role as a vice president of the FTPR. He will serve in this role for the next three years.
“A lot of people have the wrong impression about the Jones Act,” Crespo added. “Many people think that [the Jones Act] is why some of products that are brought in from stateside may cost more, but that is actually because of the tax code. It has nothing to do with transportation, which is basically what the Jones Act states. The Jones Act creates jobs, and it supports Americans getting those jobs as long as the merchandise moves in U.S. waters, but it has nothing to do with the Puerto Rico tax code.”
He concluded, “I want people to know what the Jones Act is and how many jobs it brings to Puerto Rico. We’ve got thousands of good-paying jobs in Puerto Rico that are directly dependent on the Jones Act, and we don’t cost the government a penny. On the contrary, most of our guys, the mariners, make their money outside of Puerto Rico, and yet, they pay their taxes and contribute to the economy here in Puerto Rico because they’re residents, so it’s a good thing for the economy.”
All AFL-CIO-affiliated unions on the island of Puerto Rico were represented at the convention.
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