UNISON commits new aid for Cuba
Campaign News | Wednesday, 1 July 2026
UNISON members celebrate the Cuba Vive Appeal at National Delegate Conference
Cuba was firmly on the agenda at UNISONʼs National Delegate Conference in Brighton, where Britainʼs largest trade union welcomed Dr Mitchell Valdés-Sosa, representative of the Cuban Health Workersʼ Union (SNTS) and Director of the Cuban Neuroscience Centre, as an international guest.
Addressing her first conference as General Secretary, Andrea Egan sent a powerful message of solidarity to more than 1,300 delegates. Reflecting on her 2023 visit to Matanzas with a UNISON North West delegation and the Cuba Solidarity Campaign (CSC), she described the Cuban people as “as strong as ever” and pledged UNISONʼs continued support. “Solidarity with the heroic Cuban people as they face down the American empire once again.”
During his visit, Dr Valdés-Sosa met regional delegations and spoke at a series of events. At the Young Membersʼ Forum fringe, he described the Cuban Revolution as one made by and for young people. Speaking at UNISONʼs International Rally, he placed Cubaʼs struggle within the wider fight against imperialism, austerity and the global rise of the far right, while thanking UNISON branches and regions for supporting the Cuba Vive appeal.
Nearly 200 delegates packed CSCʼs fringe meeting, ‘End the Siege on Cuba’, where Andrea Egan condemned Trumpʼs executive orders and rejected claims that Cuba poses a threat to the US.
UNISON Young Membersʼ Forum Vice-Chair Ronan Ogilvy described taking part in CSCʼs May Day Brigade as “a dream fulfilled,” while warning that the current siege of Cuba represents “an assault on the dignity of the Cuban people.”
UNISON International Committee Vice-Chair Micaela Tracey-Ramos updated delegates on the Cuba Vive appeal, which has now raised almost £500,000 and delivered fourteen consignments of medical and food aid to Cuba. She urged branches to back UNISONʼs own initiative to fund and send a container of food aid.
Speaking movingly about conditions facing Cuban health workers, Dr Valdés-Sosa said: “The Cuban people and our health workers are being hit very hard by the sanctions. They spend hours without electricity but continue working because of their responsibility to their patients. My daughter is a doctor and walks ten kilometres every day to reach her hospital.”
He warned that shortages were putting lives at risk. “Operating theatres are in the dark. More than 100,000 people are waiting for surgery, including 11,000 children with tumours or heart defects whose operations have had to be delayed.”
A video message from Jeremy Corbyn MP, unable to attend because of parliamentary commitments, reflected on his recent humanitarian visit to Cuba, where he delivered medical aid funded through the Cuba Vive appeal. Describing conditions in hospitals as “desperate,” he called for continued practical and political solidarity.
Hands Off Cuba motion unanimously adopted
Conference voted on the motion ‘Hands Off Cuba! End the Blockade on Health,’ which reaffirmed UNISONʼs commitment to CSC and called on the British government to oppose the US blockade.
Moving the motion, North West Regional Convenor Joanne Moorcroft said: “Our support for Cuba, including the Cuba Vive appeal, has always been about both material and political solidarity. Alongside raising funds for life-saving supplies, campaigning to end the US blockade must remain at the heart of our unionʼs solidarity.”
An NEC amendment committing UNISON to fund and deliver its own container of humanitarian aid was moved by Micaela Tracey-Ramos.
“In the face of US aggression, this is what solidarity looks like – not just words, but action,” she told delegates. “We must stand firm, demand that our own government acts, campaign to end the blockade and show our solidarity with our Cuban comrades.”
Micaela took part in the 2022 May Day brigade to Cuba, and the motion was supported by three further May Day Brigade participants among others. Seconding the amendment, Ronan Ogilvy (May Day Brigade 2026) reflected on his visit to Cuba. “We saw first-hand the devastating impact of the blockade on public services and workers. I was inspired by the resilience of our Cuban colleagues, but this blockade is a direct attack on working people.”
Delegates echoed those sentiments throughout the debate. Annie Cogan-Thomas (May Day Brigade 2025) said “the fight for Cuban workers is the same fight for workers all over the world,” while Natasha Bednall (May Day Brigade 2023) urged conference to “stand with the Cuban people now, not wait for things to escalate.”
The amendment was accepted and the motion carried unanimously, reinforcing UNISONʼs longstanding commitment to solidarity with Cuba.
