“On this occasion, May Day commemorations will be held virtually, under the maxim of: Making Cuba, united…”

(Taken from Granma)

Inertia, justifications, and defeatism are always harmful, but especially now given the pressing need for savings, substituting imports, developing exports, and combating theft and illegalities, as well as ordering the monetary environment, salaries, and benefits, said José Ramón Machado Ventura, second secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba Central Committee, during the closing session of the Federation of Cuban Workers 21st Congress (CTC).

With the presence of Army General Raúl Castro Ruz, First Secretary of the Party, and Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, President of the Councils of State and Ministers, on the last day of the gathering, the newly elected Secretariat of the CTC was announced, with Political Bureau member Ulises Guilarte de Nacimiento reelected as general secretary.

In his remarks, Guilarte recalled the challenges the trade union movement faces in continuing to contribute to economic efficiency and urged delegates to make a reality of the trade union movement’s watchwords this year: Unity, commitment and victory.

The coming May Day, he said, “We will shake the earth’s core with the firm steps of millions of Cuban men and women.”During the closing ceremony, works by the artist Maikel Moret, bearing the words of Fidel, Raúl and Camilo Cienfuegos, were awarded to Raúl, Díaz-Canel, and Machado Ventura, in recognition of the revolutionary work of these leaders and their contributions to the trade union movement.

Also present were members of the Political Bureau, Salvador Valdés Mesa, first vice president of the Councils of State and Ministers, and Esteban Lazo Hernández, president of the National Assembly of People’s Power, as well as other Party and government officials.

Trade union organizations from several countries with ties to the Federation of Cuban Workers (CTC) participated in activities leading up to International Workers’ Day and the 21st Congress of the Cuban trade union movement that met April 20-24 in Havana.

Representatives from more than 16 nations and some 30 organizations were invited to the event, and in addition to listening to the discussion of labor issues and concerns, they completed a full schedule including visits to production facilities to interact directly with workers.

“Our main objective is to bring people to see how we are developing the country and the circumstances in which we are doing it. We hope they pass along what they have learned, because news about Cuba is scarce and what is published is against the Revolution,” CTC Secretary General Ulises Guilarte de Nacimiento commented to the press.

He added that the main goal is to show how workers exercise union rights and that visitors freely roam the streets, listening to Cubans’ opinions. “We want them to see the damage caused by the criminal economic, commercial, and financial blockade imposed by the United States, mainly in the shortages the population faces and the lack of resources.”

Also a member of the Communist Party of Cuba Political Bureau, Guilarte noted that every year, solidarity groups around the world organize actions in support of Cuba, demanding that their governments vote for an end to the blockade in the United Nations General Assembly, given the impact suffered by the Cuban people in terms of supplies, means of production, supplies, raw materials, and spare parts.

He noted that recently the tone used by interventionist President Donald Trump has risen, with new sanctions imposed on governments seeking to build anti-capitalist societies, and mentioned sanctions announced by U.S. Vice President Mike Pence on 34 vessels owned or operated by Pdvsa (Petróleos de Venezuela) that transport oil to Cuba, as well as two additional companies.

Guilarte described the Cuba trade union congress as successful in mobilizing ideas to develop more efficiency, the indispensable basis of economic progress in Cuba. He highlighted the official statement issued by delegates in solidarity with the Bolivarian Revolution of Venezuela, with all peoples around the world fighting just causes, for peace, independence, sovereignty and against the neoliberal and discriminatory policies imposed by the White House.

These issues will also be discussed on May 2 at the World Solidarity Meeting held each year in Havana, in which international delegations share their just demands for social justice and raise their voices against the diplomatic and commercial siege that has been imposed on the sister Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, and media campaigns designed to undermine the Sandinista government of Nicaragua. They will also express solidarity with Argentine trade unions in their fight against neoliberalism, and for the freedom of former Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula Da Silva.

These demands will be expressed in May Day marches along central avenues and rallies in plazas across the country, including the emblematic Plaza de la Revolución in Havana, which will feature a colorful, multitudinous demonstration of support for the revolutionary government and for the construction of socialism under the banners of: Unity, commitment, and victory.

Across the country, health care contingents will lead marches in recognition of the results they achieved in 2018, including an infant mortality rate of 4.0 per thousand live births; revitalization of the family doctor program with a return to its foundational concepts; and a life expectancy of close to 80 years, Santiago Badía González, Secretary General of the National Union of Health Workers, explained to Granma International.

He recalled the return of the nearly 8,000 collaborating professionals who served in the Brazilian Mas Médicos program before being attacked by President Jair Bolsonaro, and highlighted Cuba’s medical assistance in more than 60 countries, with the presence of more of 30,000 workers.

“Bringing up the rear of our contingents will be professors and students from medical schools, including the Latin American School of Medicine, led by 160 compatriots who have completed internationalist missions and will carry the flags of the countries where they served,” Badía said.

Marches will reaffirm workers’ support to the socialist character of the Revolution; agreements reached at the 21st CTC Congress; as well as the Constitution proclaimed last April 10 before Parliament; and will have as another distinctive feature the celebration of Havana’s 500th anniversary.

Badía said that May Day is a workers celebration: “We are going to march in defense of our achievements, as a reaffirmation of socialism, and support for the historic leaders of the Revolution and President Miguel Díaz-Canel.”

(Granma)

Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, President of Cuba’s Councils of State and Ministers; Ulise Guilarte de Nacimiento, secretary general of the Federation of Cuban Workers (CTC); and other members of the Political Bureau and Secretariat; as well as ministers responsible for different sectors of the economy, participated in the work of commissions during the XXI CTC Congress, addressing the contribution of workers to the efficiency demanded by the national economy and the role of unions in the achievement of priority goals.

“Amidst such a complex situation, we are seeking to impact the population’s food supply, housing, transportation, computerization, and the incorporation of research findings,” said Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, speaking yesterday during a commission meeting.Workers, he said, play a central role in the defense of the country and the economic battle, and this Congress must contribute to the understanding of the moment we are living and contribute to the widest discussion possible of the country’s problems at the grassroots level.The Cuban President highlighted the importance of the trade union movement in the political understanding of processes and the mobilization of workers. “Once again we will defeat imperialism because we will overcome all obstacles; we are not afraid of their sanctions and have a people willing to move forward,” he said.We may lack resources, but never morality or combativeness in confronting problems, he concluded.Ulises Guilarte de Nacimiento, Political Bureau member and secretary general of the CTC, added that, if we are able to effectively mobilize our ranks to undertake the nation’s strategic tasks, we can talk about a productive Congress.During the discussion, delegates expressed concerns about irregularities that complicate commerce, which Minister of Finance and Prices Meisi Bolaños Weiss addressed, reporting on a study being conducted of prices and costs of producers and wholesalers, which impact retail commerce.President Díaz-Canel promised to respond gradually to the delegates’ proposals, to ensure that, “No analysis is in vain or falls on deaf ears.”

The call for the 21st Congress was announced January 28, coinciding with the 79th anniversary of the founding of the CTC and the 165th anniversary of the birth of Cuban National Hero José Martí.

Over the next 12 months, grassroots union sections will undertake an organic discussion process, make agreements, design new strategies and elect their leaders, in the lead up to the Congress scheduled to be held January 2019, to mark the CTC’s 80th anniversary.

These workplace meetings will address issues relating to employment, salaries, improvement of working conditions, health and safety, and respect for labor rights, taking into account the role of unions in guaranteeing justice in the workplace and transparency in the labor reorganization process underway in Cuba.

Debates on changes to be made in the trade union movement and the will to transform the methods and work style applied by the organization will also feature.

In addition, Guilarte de Nacimiento noted that the Congress will mark the search for better leadership and greater recognition of the work of the union within labor collectives.

“Our Congress will take a deep, analytical, wide-ranging look at the economic issue, the main battle waged in the country to reach higher rates of growth of the Gross Domestic Product,” stated Guilarte de Nacimiento.

These topics will also be discussed by participants in the national conferences of the unions of Culture, Tourism, Civil Defense, and Sugar industry workers, which will also meet in 2018.

All these union events will focus their debates on drawing up strategies within a labor scenario marked by the reorganization of employment, which has been growing in the non-state sector, in which 29% of the country’s economically active population now works.

“Today we have a qualitative change in the composition of our labor landscape, as guidelines have been established in the regulatory framework. Right now the legal norms of non-state work are being perfected and the improvement of the business system, referring to socialist state enterprises, has just been published in the Official Gazette of the Republic,” the CTC secretary general explained.

He also noted that the financial and material tensions experienced will persist, therefore reserves of untapped efficiency must be exploited, especially as regards savings, import substitution, and the production of exportable goods.

He insisted on the need to avoid wasteful use of fuel, electricity, water, and gas, and highlighted the unity, discipline, and solidarity shown by workers during the recovery process following the serious damage caused by Hurricane Irma.

“Through our own efforts we were able to rebuild the tourist infrastructure of the country, mainly in the northern keys, in only 62 days. In just another 20 days the power grids were ready for the generation and supply of energy. Under the leadership of Provincial and Municipal Defense Councils, communications and electricity workers, builders, and food industry workers were mobilized, who worked uninterruptedly and ensured basic services,” Guilarte de Nacimiento stressed.

In this regard, he noted that unions selected some 500 labor collectives and about 2,500 individual workers to receive awards in recognition of their efforts. In January 2019, individuals will be decorated as Heroes of Labor of the Republic of Cuba, and receive the Lázaro Peña Order in the first, second and third grades, medals, and diplomas. Meanwhile, outstanding collectives will receive the Labor Feat flag, distinctions, and certificates.

The union leader sent a message of congratulations to all. “On this new anniversary of the triumph of the Revolution, on the road to achieving 60 years of socialist victories, we send our regards, affection and appreciation, for having shown class consciousness and monolithic unity around the project we have decided to build. We wish them the greatest prosperity, health, and all our gratitude to their compañeros and relatives.”

The CTC secretary general also sent greetings to friends around the world and noted that the current international context is characterized by a divided trade union movement, under attack with the direct impact of neoliberal policies, in which underemployment, discriminatory policies against immigrants, young people and women predominate. Added to this is the loss of social gains and labor rights.

Today, trade union organizations are on the offensive, promoting integration among left forces. “We appeal for the involvement of social interlocutors such as the landless movements, ecologists, feminists, and youth and student movements, who in their mobilizing practice have reflected a standard of unity and integration, to confront this neoliberal offensive,” the Cuban union leader stressed.

“From Cuba and as part of our administration as a vice president of the World Federation of Trade Unions, we advocate for global spaces within organizations such as the International Labour Organization, forums, congresses, and events, to ensure the real mobilization of workers. We need a unified platform for action within the international trade union movement to confront imperialist policies,” he concluded.

(Granma)