VIVA CUBA!

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: september/october 2024 :: RMTnews 22 M yself, Sarah Cundy and James Braithwaite formed the RMT delegation on the annual May Day brigade organised by the Cuba Solidarity Campaign in Britain with the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples (Instituto Cubano de Amistad con los Pueblos) ‘ICAP’. The brigade was made up of 37 trade unionists – representing Unite, UNISON, RMT, ASLEF, TSSA, PSC, POA, NAPO, GFTU and Thompsons Solicitors. It was good to meet other internationalist trade unionists from Britain especially our sister unions TSSA and ASLEF. The Brigade had two aims: to provide practical solidarity to the Cuban People and to educate trade unionists from Britain about the Cuban revolution and way of life. We stayed on the ICAP camp for international delegates in Artemisa. Conditions on the camp were basic with cold showers, no flushing toilets, washing machines and little phone signal. But it was refreshing to live without so many of the pressures of consumerism for a while. The camp had 330 trade unionists and activists from 33 countries on various solidarity brigades making it a great way to learn about struggles all over the world. We also stayed in the city of Cienfuegos and visited Havana. The first aim of the bridge was achieved by agricultural work organised by ICAP. This was helping to bring in crops and clear fields. The brigade worked a combined 5,208 hours, equalling about 128,000 pesos of work at a rate of 13.50 peso an hour. This is very important work in a country with allocated rations of many food stuffs. We also delivered supplies such as medicines and school equipment that are difficult to obtain in Cuba due to the United States embargo which has existed since 1962, the longest running blockade in history. Learning about the US blockade, which includes a near total embargo on goods and services to Cuba, was a key part of the education brigade members received. The blockade even included basic medical supplies during the Covid pandemic. It is even illegal in US law for its citizens to go on holiday to Cuba. VIVA CUBA! Freddie Seale reports on a RMT young members delegation to Cuba SOLIDARITY: A delegation of rail workers in Havana