On the last day for both chambers to approve the measures, workers filled the stands to demand pay raises that hadn’t been implemented in 20 years in the case of judges.
The Senate, which is in regular session today, is the last to approve the measures.
Photo: Luis Lopez
Judges and employees of the judicial branch are at the Capitol to demand pay raises, with the Senate and House having a deadline to approve the measures before the end of their scheduled June 30 session.
In the case of justices — including Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Mait Oronos, who was not allowed to see her — they went to the Senate to approve the pay raise measure despite a June 22 deadline. Senate Vice President Mariali González Huertas announced that proposals to raise the salaries of judges and judicial branch employees will be addressed during the next legislative session beginning in August.
However, the president of the Puerto Rican Association of the Judiciary, Judge Carlos Salgado Schwarz, told the Notice that “conversations have been held to see if we can reopen the issue today, the last day to ratify the proceedings.”
“The Legislature’s objection is that in this case the PPD caucus wants us to approve a classification and compensation plan for judicial employees. The board has been working on the plan, and the board has already approved money in the budget to provide raises for judicial employees. That amount, like us, is in the budget. Divided, $26.6 million for staff, $11.2 million for judges.
He added, “Any time in the future, in July or August, once the Board approves the employee classification plan, it becomes effective immediately, without the need for legislation. Judges, the total number and amount for reclassification have already been approved, legislative action is required to take effect. Therefore, in July “If the classification plan is approved, whether it’s in August or the first of July, it can be retroactive, but not necessarily the judges. It’s a law because it’s prospective by definition. It requires additional legislative action, so it goes back to July 1.”
“The increase has already been approved by the board and the legislative branches that approved the budget. All they need is to implement an amendment to the Judiciary Act so the Treasury can issue the corresponding checks. .”
“In 20 years we have not got a single cent hike. This is what is happening to our judges. Not even a single hike since 2003. Meanwhile, all the employees need to get a hike,” he asserted. The Judiciary they hold rises automatically every 5 years or at the discretion of the Chief Justice… No judges. We are going to be here (in the Senate chamber) until the end of the session.”
Judge Carlos Salgado Schwarz.
Photo: Luis Lopez
A scenario that the PPD caucus has in mind, despite the fact that 385 judges, from municipal to Supreme Court judges, have received the same salary for 20 years, until last Thursday it established the specific requirement. Classification and compensation plan information that directly affects employees of the Department of Justice.
González Huertas stressed that day that although the money to be used in the increase had been allocated in the budget, “it is necessary to guarantee an adequate balance between the judges, the staff and the financial stability of the judicial branch”.
The legislator recognized the need for a “fair and equitable” base salary for employees, clerks, maintenance workers, secretaries and bailiffs in the 13 regions of the judiciary.
Regarding action to address this need, Senate Bill 1106 states that its purpose is “to establish adequate judicial compensation to attract qualified candidates and retain experienced judges, as well as to strengthen the principle of judicial independence fundamental to the proper functioning of the judiciary in a democracy”.
In terms of salary, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court earns an annual salary of $183,000.
Meanwhile, associate justices of the highest court receive an annual salary of $173,000.
Meanwhile, judges of the Court of Appeals will receive $145,000, higher officials of the Court of First Instance $120,000 and municipal judges $90,000.
The piece of legislation also establishes that judicial salaries will be adjusted every five years beginning July 1, 2028.
Judicial Branch employees also came to the Capitol today, led by the president of the Judicial Employees Union, Admiral Jerina Roman.
Secretaries, bailiffs, social workers, accountants, maintenance workers and even nurses took the stand to “continue the fight to achieve fairer pay raises and better working conditions,” said Jerena Roman.
“As the President of the Judicial Staff Association, I reiterate our position that we will never oppose any increase in the salaries of judicial judges. We recognize the importance of properly assessing and remunerating all those who make up the judicial system in the island. However, the issue of increase in judicial staff needs to be addressed in parallel. We are confident,” he said.
According to the spokesperson, “Our mission is to guarantee the integrity and proper functioning of the system as a whole. We believe in the importance of maintaining balance in the distribution of resources and benefits in the judiciary. We believe that through constructive dialogue. And mutual cooperation, we find solutions that meet the needs of all concerned.”
As for the prosecutors, Assistant Attorney General Javier Rivera Rivera, president of the Puerto Rico Bar Association, had already censured the “minimum” salary increase that would benefit them and warned that it was not in line with lawmakers’ intent. Executive Council.
According to the chairman, “This number is much less than what was previously promoted and since the percentages of assistant attorneys and advocates have been changed in law, the increase is almost negligible.”
Justice Secretary Domingo Emanuele’s reaction was not long in coming and said that the salaries of juvenile and family lawyers, property registrars and the attorney general were increased.
“As part of the new classification scheme, there is an increase for ethnic personnel. This is certainly to be recognized and celebrated,” he said in written statements.
Based on the announced increase, most assistant attorneys and litigants will receive a net increase of $137 per two weeks. It has seen no salary changes after 20 years and amid public debate that judges will receive annual raises of $20,000 to $30,000.
