May Day in Havana joined by over 60 UK Trade Unionists
News from Cuba | Monday, 5 May 2014
600,000 march through Havana and millions more across Cuba
‘Extraordinary and impressive’ was the headline from the national newspaper Granma reporting on the impressive show of national unity which snaked its way through the Havana Plaza de la Revolution.
The march was grouped into 17 Trade Union sections, each one representing sectors of the workforce, headed up by the health workers who have recently been awarded large salary increases. There were transport, tourism, teachers, public administration and agricultural workers. People from every sector, age and colour, all united in the defence of their country.
The march was presided over by leaders of the country including President Raúl Castro Ruz, and the recently elected General Secretary of the Cuban Trade Union movement (CTC), Ulises Guilarte Birth who gave the key note speech themed around the building of a sustainable socialist economy.
The only two of the Miami Five to have been released so far, René Gonzalez and Fernando Gonzalez, were present and the crowds shouted their support for the campaign for justice for all the Five and their families.
Over 1750 international guests joined the procession including representatives from 78 countries and 278 trade unions. More than 60 British trade Unionists joined the celebrations this year with delegates from Unite, UNISON, Ucatt and the Musicians Union making clear their solidarity with Cuba and the campaign for the Miami Five.
