Periodico 26

On the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the workers' organization and the proximity of its 21st Congress (April of this year), we talked about the current situation, marked by important challenges that require the conscious and committed support of the union and the workers.

Since its formation, the Cuban workers movement has had an important participation in the struggles for national sovereignty, but today the circumstances are other, much more complex...

"It is true, and we recognize the complexities in which today we develop our work, fundamentally, due to the restrictions in the economic and financial order generated by the blockade, the rise of neoliberal policies, the persistence of subjective problems in the management of the labor collectives, the nonconformities with the salary and administrations with breaches of the Law 38 of the ANIR, among other matters that demand greater leadership of the union."

"Now the trade union movement's priorities continue being the defense of the national economy and the interests of workers, in which it is crucial to take better advantage of the discussion scenarios founded by the CTC in the centers to debate about the problems and find solutions and alternatives with intelligence and the application of science, technological innovation and generalization."

"The union and the administration have to build together favorable, safe and harmonious work environments, which propitiate the commitment to contribute to the construction of socialism, the only guarantor system of the conquests and rights defended by workers leaders such as Jesús Menéndez and Lázaro Peña, just to mention two examples."

However, we are still insisting on the need to increase the sense of belonging of the workers. In your opinion, what are the causes of this unfinished aspiration?

"The feeling of belonging will grow at the same time that the workers feel fully addressed their concerns, aspirations, and their approaches and proposals are taken into account when making the main decisions, as main actors, and not as simple executors in the performance of the Socialist State Enterprise."

Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, president of the Councils of State and Ministers, has defined this new calendar as a year of challenges and victory, what are the main challenges that the Cuban workers face today?

"There are several challenges that we face: First of all, we have to show that an efficient and productive Socialist State Enterprise is possible, achieve a greater representation of the workers, give an answer and / or solution to the cardinal proposals of the collectives and continue to strengthen the unity of the trade union movement around the Party and the Revolution."

Is the trade union movement with its leaders from the base, in a position to lead the workers correctly towards the achievement of the goals?

"Raúl Castro expressed:" I have always believed in the importance of the union in socialism (...) ", and under this premise I can affirm categorically that union leaders, at all levels, are able to lead the workers correctly towards the achievement of the proposed objectives, aware that it cannot be a slogan, which is about working every day, not excluding the contribution of anyone and being an example."

What is missing from the union movement to banish opinions that the union, in many workplaces, exists only to collect the contribution?

"This is a criterion that shows us the fissures in the process, fundamentally. To banish these opinions requires union leaders prepared and more involved in all activities of each center, union leaders who require the administration to give an account of their management to the workers, leaders more linked to the base who give encouragement to the workers. Concretely, it is necessary to function and fulfill our missions."

Self-employed workers constitute an important force that complements the work of the Socialist State Enterprise, what is the process for their affiliation and the defense of their rights?

"The recognition of the rights of non-state workers in Law 116 of the Labor Code and the new legal norms recently enforced demonstrate the will of the Cuban State in the consolidation of this sector, but it is a task that needs greater attention, above all, in its relationship with the governing bodies, in the processing of their main concerns and in their incorporation as active entities in the work of the territory."

What did the organic process leave before the 21st Congress of the CTC?

"This process demonstrates, once again, the democracy of the Cuban trade union movement, because it allowed the exchange with the collectives about various issues, and to verify those issues in which there are still dissatisfactions such as salary, working conditions, the representativeness of the union, economic issues, the role of innovation and generalization in production processes, payment systems, retirement and others to which we must pay more attention."

"In general, the organic process, in which we are still immersed, has strengthened the trade union movement, because it traces the path we must take towards an organization with greater leadership that defends the interests of the country and represents the workers, demands the solution of their approaches, achieve their participation in decision making and continue flying the unity flag."

The constitutional referendum and the workers...

"The new Constitution is not foreign to the workers, because it confirms their conquests and they participated decisively in the process of its formation, which is why I trust that this February 24th they will go massively to the polls with all the people and will give a Yes for the Revolution and socialism, as a fitting tribute to the legacy of Fidel Castro Ruz, our unbeaten Commander in Chief, to the 80th anniversary of the CTC and its 21st Congress."

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