IN THE largest Cuban trade union delegation for many years, 14 Cuban trade union leaders from across the island, representing national and regional unions from six industrial sectors, will be participating in a one-day conference in London tomorrow alongside hundreds of trade unionists from across England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland. 

Alongside the Cuban guests, speakers from the British trade union and labour movement include Unite general secretary Len McCluskey, National Education Union joint general secretary Kevin Courtney, Communication Workers Union general secretary Dave Ward, Young Labour international officer Marcus Barnett and Labour MP Karen Lee.

Heading the delegation from Cuba is Carmen Rosa Lopez Rodriguez, MP and deputy general secretary of the Central Trabajadores de Cuba, in her first visit to Britain. 

She will be accompanied by general secretaries and trade union leaders from Cuba’s SNTS (health), SNTAP (public administration), SNTECD (education) SNTCIE (communications), SNTTP (transport and ports) and SNTEM (energy and mining) unions.

The conference comes at a critical time for the Cuban people. The Trump administration has tightened the blockade to unprecedented levels in an attempt to strangle the Cuban economy. 

Title III of the Helms-Burton Act has brought increasing numbers of lawsuits to US courts and restrictions on oil shipments are beginning to bite, causing fuel and energy shortages. 

Earlier this week Trump blocked Cuba from leasing aircraft and has blocked direct US-Cuba flights to nine regional Cuban airports. 

Following the banning of US cruise ships to Cuba, the US administration is clearly now trying to asphyxiate the Cuban tourism industry.

The conference is your opportunity to meet front-line Cuban Trade Unionists from across the island inspiring workers facing the challenges caused by the blockade.

We will hear from experts and discuss the latest developments in the ongoing aggressions from the Trump administration. 

The conference takes place just a few days before the United Nations general assembly is due to vote on Cuba’s resolution against the blockade.

We will explore ways to increase political and practical solidarity here and to counter the misinformation propagated about Cuba. 

Featured sessions include understanding the impact of Title III of the Helms-Burton Act and the blockade on Cuba’s education, health and society; workers’ democracy and influence in setting national economic policy in the country, and the role of international solidarity.

The British trade union movement has a long and proud history of support for causes around the world — this conference will build on those traditions. 

It will look at ways of increasing political and practical solidarity, counter the misinformation propagated about Cuba and develop close inter-union relationships, as well as informing, educating and mobilising activists.

Unions for Cuba is the final and biggest event in our year-long celebrations of the 60th anniversary of the Cuban Revolution and the 80th anniversary of Cuba’s trade union federation, the Central Trabajadores de Cuba (CTC).

• In March we organised a successful two-week tour by two young trade union leaders from Matanzas and Ciego del Avila to build solidarity between young workers in Cuba and Britain.
• In June we celebrated the island’s inspirational international medical brigades with a tour by Dr Enmanuel Vigil Fonseca.
• September saw Ulises Guilarte de Nacimiento, General Secretary of the CTC, address TUC Congress in Brighton, and a unanimous motion passed against the US blockade and in support of Cuba.
• Throughout the year local groups and trade unions have displayed our touring Cuba60 exhibition, highlighting Cuba’s social achievements in health, education and humanitarian internationalism, as well as the impact of the blockade and the solidarity between Cuban and British workers.
• We have also spoken at numerous trade union branch and regional meetings, and Labour Party CLP meetings, about Cuba and our work.

Following the conference the Cuban guests will be spending several days taking part in workplace visits and exchanges with their British counterparts nationally and regionally including with Unison, Unite the union, Aslef, NEU and the CWU.

The Unions for Cuba conference provides an opportunity for trade unionists and activists to redouble our efforts for solidarity with the Cuban people and build upon the wonderful motion passed at the TUC Congress this year in support of solidarity with Cuba, against the US blockade, in defence of their right to independence and sovereignty and to build a better world for all.

Frances O’Grady, general secretary, TUC

Congratulations to CTC on 80 years of fighting for workplace and social justice. 

The TUC is proud to build friendship between British and Cuban workers. We oppose Donald Trump’s economic war on Cuba and the US blockade which hits working people hardest. 

And we will always champion workers’ rights, at home and worldwide, to win equality, justice and dignity for everyone.

Kevin Courtney, joint general secretary, NEU

The British trade union movement has a long and proud history of support for causes around the world — this conference will build on those traditions. 

It will look at ways of increasing political and practical solidarity, counter the misinformation propagated about Cuba; develop close inter-union relationships as well as informing, educating and mobilising activists.

Cuba’s free, universal and inclusive education system is a beacon across Latin America and the Caribbean and I am proud of the NEU’s solidarity with the teachers’ union in Cuba and the Cuban people. I look forward to speaking alongside Cuban trade union leaders at this important conference.

Christine Blower, National Education Union international secretary

Cuba has no illiteracy and spends the highest percentage of GDP on education in the world — it is remarkable.

Len McCluskey, general secretary, Unite the Union

Unite is looking forward to welcoming Cuban workers to the UK in November.

The Unions for Cuba conference is a symbol of the bonds of solidarity that exist between British and Cuban trade unionists and our commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder with them in their fight against the US blockade.

Steve Turner, Unite assistant general secretary

The Cuban people have made many great achievements under the most difficult circumstances.

We need to build international solidarity with Cuba. We need to take the message of international solidarity into our communities, into the pub, into the cafe, and get your trade union branches to affiliate to CSC.