"The working class, its role and
its mission today.
The tasks and concrete experiences of the Communist Party in the working class
and the trade union."
Brussels, 16-18 May 2008
www.icsbrussels.org , ics@icsbrussels.org
The Cuban Trade Union Movement: a Pillar of the Revolution
Communist Party of Cuba
History
The Cuban trade union movement boasts of a long history of unity in the
struggle for the demands of the working class.
The current Workers' Central of Cuba (Central de Trabajadores de Cuba, CTC) has as predecessor the National Workers' Confederation of Cuba (Confederación Nacional Obrera de Cuba, CNOC), which was considered the first proletarian trade union center in Cuba. From its inception, it supported and promoted the class struggle, and under the leadership of the Communist Party, it organised two strikes that are well-known in Cuba's history: the first in August 1933, which was decisive in bringing down the dictatorship of Gerardo Machado, and the second in March 1935, which was brutally repressed by the government of Batista-Caffery-Mendieta.
Because of these facts, the CNOC was illegalised and many of its union
leaders were assassinated or put in jail. Thus started the difficult struggle
for the liberation of those who were imprisoned as political prisoners and
for the legalisation of the unions.
From 23 to 28 January 1939, the Constituant Congress of the Workers' Confederation of Cuba (Confederación de Trabajadores de Cuba) took place, with the participation of some 1500 delegates from 700 mass organisations. They elected the worker Lázaro Peña as Secratery General, for his honesty and courage. From its very beginning, this organisation was being watched by the governments that shared the interests of the United States, and what had happened with the representatives of the CNOC, would happen again with the leaders of the CTC: persecution, prison and assassination.
The Cuban working class and the struggle for national liberation
Notwithstanding the wave of terror unleashed against the revolutionary
workers movement, the workers rebellion was present in the the struggle
against the bloody dicatorship of Fulgencio Batista with numerous manifestations.
The 1st of January 1959, the working class vigorously responded
to the call of the Rebel Army for a revolutionary general strike. They paralysed
the country from one side to the other and launched themselves onto the
streets, thus decisively contributing to counter the maneuvers of imperialism
and to the triumph of the Revolution.
The working class in the building of socialism in Cuba
With the triumph of the Revolution in January 1959, the situation of the Cuban working class and of the trade union movement changed radically. In 1961 the Workers' Confederation of Cuba changed its name to the Workers' Central of Cuba, honouring the traditions of struggle of the Cuban working class.
In the new political, economic and social context, the Cuban trade union
movement started a process of redefinition of its role and of the gradual
transformation of its structures, objectives and methods of work.
Comrade Raúl Castro said in 1971:
"In the period of socialist construction, which is a process of sharp struggle and enormous efforts – particularly if this takes place in an underdeveloped country under blockade and aggression, as is our case – the trade unions play a most important role, although this role is of a different quality than their corresponding role in a society of capitalist exploitation... Once the working class is in power... once all structures of the old society have been cleaned up, the role of the trade union is transformed and becomes more complex, because it is now... the organ that links the workers more directly to the efforts to build the new society, which is notably their own society."
Our Commander-in-Chief said in the framework of the XIVth Congress of the CTC:
"… the first duty of the workers in the Revolution is to build socialism, that is their first duty... because it concerns their own socialism, their own society... their own wealth... to watch over the interests of the workers... for their rights... it needs to be the exponent of the interests of the workers..."
In the main report to the First Congress of the CCP, in 1975, the role played by the Cuban trade union movement in the first 16 years of the Revolution was evaluated as follows:
"The revolutionary CTC has fulfilled an irreplaceable role in all battles of the Revolution for the defense of worker power, in the nationalisation of the basic resources, the alfabetisation, the mobilisation for the sugar harvests, the safeguarding of production in conditions of imperialist economic blockade, and in innumerable other efforts that made victory possible, and the consolidation of the first socialist revolution on the American continent."
This remains entirely valid up to this day.
The task of the trade union movement in the building of socialism
The National Council of the CTC, in its meeting of December 2006 and as a follow-up of the agreements of its XIXth Congress held in September of that year, approved "The working content of the trade union movement", in which the strategical relationship between Party and trade union movement is clearly defined:
"Under socialism, a main function of the unions is to serve as a vehicle for the orientation, guidelines and objectives that the revolutionary power, the power of the working class, has to bring to the heart of the toiling masses.
The Party is the vanguard that exists, orients and fulfills its true role to the extent that it is able to project itself among the masses.
The trade unions are the most powerful link between the Party and the working class. The unions are essential elements in the building of socialism, not only because through the unions the orientation of the Party reaches the entire masses, but also because through the unions the sentiments, concerns and initiatives of the entire masses should reach the Party."
The Cuban trade union movement
The Workers' Central of Cuba (CTC) is currently composed of 19 sectoral unions that bring together in their ranks 96% of the country's workforce. Affiliation is voluntary, and the unions are organised in all workplaces in the country.
The CTC counts with a National Cadre School with the name of the historical leader of our working class, Lázaro Peña, and with a weekly paper, Trabajadores.
There is also the National Association of Innovators and Rationalisers (ANIR), which serves as a venue to develop the innovative capacity of our working class.
The XIXth Congres of the CTC
The CTC held its XIXth Congress in September 2006, where the following critical analyses were made:
The Congress critically analysed the deficiencies in the union work and
the challenges ahead that the Cuban workers movement is actually facing.
In his intervention upon his election, CTC Secretary General Salvador Valdés singled out the historical moment, in a new phase of the Revolution, with important and profound changes in the political, economic and social life of the country, in which new methods and styles of work are necessary, and a new mentality to transform and perfect the trade union work.
He said:
"... We must get to our workers, to be able to obtain a better understanding of the historical role that we have in the building of a new society... and show the world the advantages of socialism, for the workers are the most militant, organised and revolutionary force, capable of realising the transformations of socialism."
The Congress defined the working priorities of the CTC today.
The priorities of the Cuban trade union movement
Continue to consolidate and strengthen the unity of the workers and of
the trade union movement around our Party and around the leadership of the
Revolution.
Continue to deepen the political-ideological work and the education of
the workers for a better understanding of their historical role in the building
of socialism, as masters of the means of production.
Redouble the efforts to obtain a greater trade union participation in the
fight against crime, lack of discipline, illegalities and corruption.
Push forward the process of recuperation of the Cuban economy, increasing
discipline, sacrifice, order, control and the economical use of resources.
Promote the active participation of the workers in the defense of the Socialist
Fatherland.
Increase the efficiency in tackling themes related to the job, the salaries,
the Collective Bargaining Agreements, the integral care of the worker, his
safety and his health.
Continue to develop proletarian internationalism.
Work for the strengthening of the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU) and its regional structures in Latin America.
The fight for the liberation of the Five Heroes
This year, with the 10 years of arbitrary imprisonment of the 5 Cuban Heroes, the Cuban trade unions have launched an appeal to the international democratic and revolutionary trade union and workers movement to intensify their efforts to let the truth about this case be known and to demand their immediate and unconditional release.
Last 2 May, 175 trade union, social and solidarity organisations met in Havanna on the occasion of the International Workers Day. They reaffirmed their commitment to coordinate actions for the World Action Campaign for the Liberation of the 5 Cubans, to be held from 12 September to 8 October this year.
In the name of our people I ask the participants of this Seminar to join this just clamor for solidarity with the cause of our antiterrorist fighters.
The commitment of the working class with the continuation of the Cuban Revolution
The Final Declaration of the XIXth Congress of the CTC reiterates the commitment of the Cuban working class and its trade union movement with the defense and the continuation of our Revolution and our Socialism, to wit:
"… our most profound conviction is that in Cuba there will only be a transition to more Revolution, more social justice, more socialism, and that we will accompany Fidel for ever. And if ever, by the law of nature, he would no longer be among us, we will stand firm, in the first ranks, fighting side by side with Raúl and his comrades, side by side with the Party that they founded and that will never disappear, to make the Revolution and Socialism invincible."
And this commitment reverberated on the Plaza of the Revolution this 1st of May, with the slogan of:
Unity, Steadfastness and Victory!