[Campaign Events] [News from Cuba] [International news and events] [UK Events] [Reviews]
By Mike Hemmings
In July and August of this year I had the good fortune to visit Cuba as part of an International work brigade and to attend the International Festival of Youth and Students. This was organised by the Cuba Solidarity Campaign and the British Festival Preparatory Committee. I received financial help through an exchange grant from Unison.
TO listen to the media you would believe that Cuba was a dictatorship. Under Fidel Castro, so the story goes, no democracy is allowed, workers are physically forced to work and not allowed to express their opinions. The people, of course, need the US to come to their country to 'democratise' it, bring ' freedom' and 'independent' trade unions.
As part of my visit I met hundreds of workers, spoke with union officials and visited numerous schools, hospitals, factories and research centres. I found that nothing could be further from the truth.
The basic system of democracy in Cuba is from the 'grass roots' up. The leadership needs to be strong in its battle against the US. But this is to defend what the people see as a preferable system to corrupt and exploitative US dependent, so called 'democratic', Latin American states. People are involved at all levels of society but principally at the community level through CDR's (neighbourhood committees) and at the workplace through the trade unions. They are also involved through the Communist Party and Federation of Cuban Women.
The unions fought through the 1959 Revolution to remove Batista and his puppet union leaders. They now have an established and independent union structure under the CTC (the equivalent of our TUC) with unions covering 18 different trades or sectors of work, e.g. construction, agriculture and tourism. These operate at branch, regional and national level with high levels of participation compared to British workplaces. Most people are members of trade unions (some 97 per cent overall although this varies by trade).
Representatives are elected by regular ballot. At a workplace level the managers, trade unions, communist party and Cuban women's organisation work together to solve the problems within any particular enterprise. Union officials are keen to point out that although membership levels are high there is no compulsion to join or pay levies to the union as was the case in the Soviet Union. People are members because they choose to be, the levies are low and they see the advantages of participation.
The trade unions have been very involved in the changes that have taken place in the economy since the collapse of the Soviet Union.
Changes were required as Cuba was heavily dependent on the favourable terms of trade it had with the Soviet Union for its economic survival. Without this support the country faced economic collapse. There were proposals to tax salaries, close down commercially unprofitable enterprises and create widespread unemployment. After an extended period of consultation across all trades and areas of the country taking almost a year, these proposals were rejected by a majority of workers. The government did not implement them.
However, due to the harshness of their economic situation, new measures were found to try to maintain the maximum employment while securing economic stability and growth. This involved adapting the use of factories. As there was no fuel, tractor factories were closed and the workers transferred to other tasks, e.g. assembling Chinese bicycles, where labour was needed.
Some unemployment was accepted (currently apx. 7 per cent) but this was in return for a continuation of wages at 60 per cent of the level while working. The working hours were increased from 40 to 44 hours and wages across the whole economy were lowered. The collective state farms were broken down into smaller co-operatives, new sectors such as Tourism were rapidly expanded to give access to hard currency and small scale private enterprises were allowed. People were for the first time allowed to hold dollars legally and dollar shops were opened.
The changes in the economy are having their effect on union membership. The current union structure was established to support workers in state enterprises. While they have had some success in recruiting in the tourist sector, and other joint enterprises, they have not been successful in maintaining union support amongst the 'freelancers' or self employed.
We would find this unsurprising and the lure of cash is a growing problem. The dual dollar and peso economy is creating distortions in wealth in what was a system geared to equality and fair pay dependent on the job. Now low skill workers in, or hustlers around, the tourist trade can earn more in dollar tips per month than a college professor or advanced scientist can earn in their peso salary per year. There is an urgent need to tackle the inequalities caused by the dual economy and reward the more loyal workforce.
I was most impressed by how the unions tried to resolve problems at the workplace level. This was generally in an informal and collaborative manner. There were not the adversarial strains found in the capitalist countries as most workers trusted their government and employer. They worked together to overcome the many problems caused by the US blockade. These are witnessed in major shortages of almost every raw material needed in the production process, from building blocks to chemicals and electricity. This requires great resilience, but most of the workers I met felt that the defence of the Cuban revolution was a common struggle for all exploited workers and such sacrifices were necessary.
The unions are able to play a role in informing and consulting with workers and conveying their feelings to the government. This year there has been growth in the economy and the economic outlook has improved. This suggests that the strategy is working, although the tensions between the state and partially privatised sector, and income inequality are real.
The economic recovery is from what fell to a low base and is fragile. The unions retain the right to strike and feel this is essential for them to have strength and ensure the government responds to their interests. They rarely use this action and seek to balance their independence from the government with their general support for the revolutionary cause.
The US funds, supports and promotes what it calls 'independent' trade unions in opposition to the official unions. These do not hold elections and appear to return to the days of puppet unions manipulated by, and in favour of, US interests rather than those of the workers. I would ask anyone who doubts the independence and democracy of the official trade unions to visit Cuba as part of a study group or delegation and see and talk to workers first hand. Any visitor would be amazed by the warmth of their reception and the dedication and commitment of the workers in this brave country.