Less than a week ago, over 150,000 workers in Puerto Rico took to the streets to protest Governor Luis Fortuño's plans to lay off 17,000 state employees--and they're not stopping there. Tomorrow, coalition Todo Puerto Rico Por Puerto Rico will picket outside the meeting Governor Fortuño is having with business companies to discuss the privatization of public projects and agencies.

"This event is scheduled to sell public services to the businessmen who in turn may rehire recently fired workers with a minimum wage salary and with no rights," said SPT-SEIU Local 1996 president Roberto Pagan of tomorrow's picket. "This is the second stage of the massive layoffs ordered by Gov Fortuño, and we will fight it with the same passion as we did during the National one day General Strike." The meeting, originally scheduled for last Thursday, was re-scheduled for October 22nd when the same coalition called for a one day national strike on October 15th. The meeting was also moved from the Convention Center in San Juan to Hotel El Conquistador in Fajardo, a location miles northeast of San Juan. This has not deterred the coalition of determined activists and workers, who have spoken this warning on more than one occasion: "We will go wherever he goes."

Newspapers in Puerto Rico reported yesterday that the Governor's Republican image has deteriorated in the U.S. because of the his dismal handling of the labor situation in PR, and the widespread coverage the Oct. 15th General Strike received in U.S. And oh how far the Governor's star has fallen....Once a Republican Latino poster boy, now Fortuño is no longer warmly welcomed into his GOP colleague's campaigns.

Piggybacking off tomorrow's protest, superstar Latino artist René Pérez (aka Residente of Calle 13) will be presenting at the Latin MTV music awards in LA, where he's expected to speak out against the Governor's firings.