World Federation of Trade Unions meets in Havana

During the encounter, which also saw the participation of Salvador Valdés Mesa, Party Political Bureau member and a vice president of the Council of State, Díaz-Canel updated attendees on work underway to perfect Cuba’s social and economic policy, as well as the process toward the normalization of relations with the United States

Author: Jesús Jank Curbelo | informacion@granma.cu
May 4, 2017 10:05:10

The current battle is to combat the perverse attempts by imperialism to divide the international trade union movement, as part of its program of capitalist and neo-liberal restoration which aims to destroy the identity of our nations. This is why we are honored that this important meeting is taking place in Cuba, which we regard as a gesture of support and solidarity with the Revolution, as well as a heartfelt tribute to Comandante en Jefe Fidel Castro Ruz.

With these remarks, Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, Party Political Bureau member and first vice president of the Councils of State and Ministers, inaugurated the Executive Council of the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU), in the Havana International Convention Center, May 3.

During the encounter, which also saw the participation of Salvador Valdés Mesa, Party Political Bureau member and a vice president of the Council of State, Díaz-Canel updated attendees on work underway to perfect Cuba’s social and economic policy, as well as the process of normalizing relations with the United States, noting that Cuba has made its ideological and socialist intentions clear; and that our commitment to sister nations and organizations (including the WFTU) is not on the negotiating table.

Meanwhile, Mzwandile Michael Makwayiba and George Mavrikos, WFTU president and secretary general, respectively, reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to the island’s working class, and expressed their support for and end to the U.S. blockade and return of the illegally occupied territory in Guantánamo.

“The presence here of comrades from Korea, India, Nepal, Iran, Russia, Europe, Syria, Africa and every corner of the planet, is proof that Cuban socialism will never be alone, because we are all Cubans in our hearts,” stated Mavrikos.

Meanwhile, Ulises Guilarte de Nacimiento, member of the Party Political Bureau and secretary general of the Cuban Workers’ Federation (CTC), noted, “We regard the holding, in our country, of the first WFTU Presidential Council, following its successful 17th Congress, as very important and transcendental, representing the continuation of the implementation of agreements and objectives which emerged from that forum.

“The countries and organizations we represent have placed their most legitimate hopes in the expectation that our debates will provide the responses and solutions to problems affecting the world of work. Therefore, this will be a meeting which will see the prestige and leadership of our glorious Trade Union Federation grow,” he concluded.