The annual conference of the United Kingdom’s Labour Party, held this week in the city of Liverpool, was the first after the political grouping’s victory last July 4 after 14 years of Conservative Party (so-called Tory) governments.
The event brought together representatives of the main British unions, including UNISON and UNITE, which have historically supported the Labour Party. Members and leaders of other national unions also attended.
In this context, the renowned Cuba Solidarity Campaign (CSC) participated as an exhibitor, along with some of the trade unions affiliated to this British NGO founded more than 30 years ago.
Thanks to its work, the CSC was able to attract important figures in British politics and trade unionism to the Cuba Vive North West rally and the Cuban Workers Under Blockade event.
During one of the sessions of the partisan event, Rob Miller, director of the CSC, announced that the fundraising actions carried out so far this year as part of the Cuba Vive initiative have raised more than 100,000 pounds sterling, which will be used to alleviate the difficulties and shortages in the health sector caused by the economic blockade imposed by the United States.
The British trade unions affiliated to the CSC joined this solidarity support for the Cuban workers, who in the previous months had carried out activities and mobilizations informing about the effects of the blockade and the inclusion of Cuba in the list of countries sponsoring terrorism, which is drawn up annually by the U.S. Department of State.
The Cuba Vive North West Rally, held on Monday, September 23 at The Casa, Liverpool, was attended by Cuba’s Ambassador to the United Kingdom, Ismara Vargas Walter, and MPs such as Bell Ribeiro-Addy, Kim Johnson and Richard Burgon, who maintain their solidarity with Cuba and are part of the British Parliament’s Friendship Group with the island.
The speeches of that day highlighted the role that Cuba has historically maintained in terms of internationalism, especially in the case of health workers who have carried out difficult missions in different countries of the world.
The next day, Tuesday, September 24, as part of the sessions of the Labor Party Conference, the Cuban Workers Under Blockade meeting was held, with the participation of Vargas Walter, head of Cuban diplomacy in the European country, and interventions by British Member of Parliament Paula Barker, UNITE representative Nazifa Zaman and CSC President Rob Miller. The event was moderated by Steve Turner, UNITE Assistant General Secretary.
Throughout the day they addressed the difficult conditions faced by Cuban workers as a result of the blockade and the impact of the coercive measures on the economy and daily life. The panellists highlighted the resilience of the Cuban people and the importance of increased solidarity actions by the British trade union and political movement.
Labor leaders and members of the Workers’ Party present at the event pledged to continue to raise their voices for justice and the right of the Cuban people to develop without interference.
The participation of so many relevant actors in British politics and trade unionism in the two days of support for Cuba in the context of the National Conference of the Labour Party is evidence of the increasingly widespread rejection of the U.S. blockade in the face of the almost unanimous recognition of the Cuban people’s right to self-determination.
For the Cuban diplomats, the experience of these days is a clear testimony of the strength of international solidarity with the Cuban Revolution, an effort that continues to inspire millions of people around the world.
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