FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  FROM:        LEO PARASCONDOLA  TO:          WORKPLACE RECEIVED:    10.12.01 POSTED:      10.12.01 SUBJECT:    PUERTO RICO WORKERS STRIKE HALTS CLASSES     SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) -- About 5,000 workers at the University of   Puerto Rico staged a second day of strikes Wednesday, halting classes   for 69,000 students at campuses throughout the island.   The strike by non-teaching employees at Puerto Rico's largest university   began Tuesday after the university and the Brotherhood of Non-Docent   Employees hit an impasse in negotiations over a new labor contract. The   strikers, with jobs ranging from security guards to maintenance workers,   are demanding better retirement benefits.   The picketing stopped classes at all of the public university's 11   campuses on the Caribbean island, university officials said.   Although the university campuses did not officially close, professors   and students stayed home to avoid crossing picket lines. A meeting    will be held Friday to try to resolve the deadlock, university   and union officials said.   "The university administration is very willing to resume dialogue," said   Jorge Sanchez, the university's interim president.   Since negotiations began in May, the University of Puerto Rico has   agreed with the union on many points in the contract, Sanchez said. But   the negotiations broke down on Saturday when the two sides could not    agree on a portion of the contract dealing with retirement benefits.   In the southern city of Ponce, dozens of picketers protested outside the   city's campus.   "The sun is punishing, but we remain steadfast in favor of the strike,"   said Carmen Santiago, a spokeswoman for the striking workers.     For More Information Contact Copyright 2001 The Associated Press. © 2001 Cable News Network LP, LLLP