José Ramón Machado Ventura, second secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba, said that the Cuban Workers Federation (CTC) is decisive in the current circumstances, in which the Homeland requires the support of the working class, along with the peasants and other manual and intellectual workers.
His speech closed the final session of the XXI Congress of the organization, which took place in the Havana Convention Center with the presence of Army General Raúl Castro Ruz, First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC), and Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, President of the Councils of State and Ministers.
Machado Ventura highlighted the role of the labor movement in the search for solutions to the existing problems, with seriousness and constancy; whereas the CTC is «a bastion of unity since its birth eight decades ago».
He added that this Congress constitutes another resounding response of the workers to the aggressions, threats and lies with which «the enemy intends – today with a renewed sign – to fulfill its old dream of defeating the Revolution and turning Cuba back into an appendage of its empire.
He explained that the trade union movement faced numerous challenges during the last five years, in which there have been constant and profound transformations in the economy and, therefore, those of the working environment, added to those of the past five years to an adverse international situation; and highlighted the role of the CTC in driving the economy for the benefit of society as a whole.
In this complex scenario, the concern and, above all, the occupation of a large number of professional cadres and grassroots union leaders was very valuable, Machado Ventura said.
We are not in the same situation as we were years ago,» he said. «Although not in the magnitude we would like, there are evident advances in updating our economic and social model, especially in laying the foundations so as not to repeat old mistakes.
The understanding and support of the great majority of workers, their willingness to face problems and not turn them into justifications, has been vital in this, added the Second Secretary of the PCC.
He also called for continued consolidation of the sense of belonging to the workplace, pride in being part of it, personal commitment to its results and collective shame when things do not go as they should be.
He urged not to feel satisfied with fulfilling the plan, to take advantage of the possibility of exporting any product or service, even if it means a small contribution; «and before thinking about importing something, find out if it can be produced here, which in addition to saving, constitutes a source of employment.
He urged that theft, corruption and any criminal or negligent attitude causing material and moral damage be rigorously combated.
Due to the economic situation of the country, he affirmed that in some of the issues in which progress was being made, it will be necessary to do it at a slower pace until the material conditions for carrying them out are recovered, with the work and effort of all; nevertheless, «the main development programs will be supported».
He emphasized the union conclave and took the opportunity to refer to the political courage needed to refute an improperly wrong criterion in the current conditions, even when it is predominant in a collective.
It will be necessary to face the complex and unpostponable process to put order in the monetary system and in parallel in salaries, subsidies and gratuitousness, issues that require a joint solution given their close relationship, he said. (Taken from Cuban News Agency)
