The Workers’ Central Union of Cuba (Spanish: Central de Trabajadores de Cuba, Central de Trabajadores de Cuba (CTC)The CTC (Workers' Central Union of Cuba) was founded on January 28, 1939 by Lázaro Peña under the name Confederación de Trabajadores de Cuba (Confederation of Cuban Workers)), forged in the most genuine traditions of struggle and firmly committed to the ideas of our National Hero José Martí, the teachings of the Captain of the Working Class Lázaro Peña González and the thinking of our Historical Leader Commander in Chief Fidel Castro Ruz, today faces the great challenges and challenges involved in the improvement of our Social Economic Model of Socialist Development.
Substantial transformations are taking place in the labor and trade union scenario of the country, as a result of the decentralization of powers to the Socialist State Enterprise to give it greater autonomy, the recomposition of employment in view of the growth and diversification of the private sector, together with the dynamics of changes applied in the regulatory legal framework preserving the essential bases of equity and social justice.
The fruits of that transforming effort have been notably affected by the intensified economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the Government of the United States, which, among other damages, has caused a considerable loss of the country’s foreign exchange income. Without failing to recognize our inefficiencies and mistakes, this is undoubtedly the essential cause of the current macroeconomic imbalances, of the non-existence of wholesale markets for the resupply of raw materials and inputs; and of the partial dollarization of the economy.
Added to this is the contraction of the productive activity that causes shortages in the supply of goods and services that have generated excessive prices and caused a significant deterioration in the purchasing power of wages and pensions, with the consequent labor fluctuation of highly qualified professional workers.
In view of this complex context, in which the Government’s projection to correct Distortions and Re-launch the Economy has been approved, the Central de Trabajadores de Cuba calls for the celebration of its XXII Congress, whose organic process will take place during the year 2024 and is expected to hold its final sessions in April 2025.
At each stage of its schedule we have proposed an exercise of reflection and deep, critical and proactive debate, which legitimizes the participation of members in consensus building, consolidates union leadership in the mission of representing the rights and guarantees of workers, contributing to greater effectiveness in their mobilization to efficiently promote our development programs, enhance the contribution of ANIR and ensure first and foremost the defense of the Homeland.
At the same time, these days should consolidate the unity of the labor and union movement from a democratic action and practice, from the spaces that we have won by right, such as the assembly of members and workers, the board of directors and the Collective Bargaining.
It will also be an opportunity to strengthen the selection of cadres and their reserves, a matter that cannot be postponed given its strategic nature; to systematize the political-ideological, economic, legal and labor training; to recover the socialist emulation, as well as to banish formalisms in the confrontation with the media campaigns of ideological subversion and cultural colonization.
Workers:
At the closing of the 8th Party Congress, its First Secretary comrade Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez pointed out:
«We do not march on a proven path. We are challenged to constantly innovate, changing everything that needs to be changed, without renouncing our strongest principles. Without ever departing from the Revolution concept bequeathed to us by the undefeated leader of this feat, but free from rigid ties and aware of the possible misunderstandings involved in making the road as we go along».
In the passage through that arduous purpose, our working class, in the exercise of a real power conquered with the effort and sacrifice of many generations, must march at the forefront of the people in the inescapable endeavor to ensure that Cuba will always be sovereign, independent, socialist and increasingly democratic, prosperous and sustainable. Sure of victory, for Cuba together we create!
National Secretariat of the CTC
January 23, 2024
