Puerto Rican workers protest cuts

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, Oct. 15 (UPI) -- Thousands of workers in Puerto Rico gathered Thursday in the capital of San Juan as part of a strike against major government budget cuts, an official said.

Puerto Rican Gov. Luis Fortuno urged order and respect during Thursday's protests aimed at planned budget cuts expected to lead to the elimination of nearly 17,000 jobs, CNN reported.

"Everyone has the right to express themselves and we will guarantee that right," Fortuno said. "The important thing is that we do it with respect, that we do it with order and that we understand that each of our rights ends where the other person's begins."

To help close a $3.2 billion budget gap, Fortuno announced nearly 17,000 layoffs in the public sector to take effect in November.

No incidents were reported at protest sites in San Juan despite a heavy police presence in those areas, CNN reported.

The U.S. Department of Labor Statistics estimates Puerto Rico's unemployment rate is currently more than 15 percent with an increase predicted once the layoffs go into effect.