Raul warns of US intentions
Campaign News | Friday, 29 September 2006
First Vice President Raúl Castro's closing remarks at the 19th Congress of the Central Organization of Cuban Trade Unions
"We are dealing with a very powerful enemy, capable of resorting to any means to destroy the Revolution"
GENERAL of the Army Raúl Castro, second secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba, affirmed that in the face of great external dangers and those stemming from internal deficiencies, it is necessary to work with more organization, consistency and discipline.
Speaking in the International Convention Center in Havana, Cuba’s first vice president gave the closing remarks at the 19th Congress of the Central Organization of Cuban Trade Unions (CTC), to whose delegates he brought a message of congratulations in the name of President Fidel Castro.
Raúl noted that it was the first time since the triumph of the Revolution that Fidel was not physically present at a congress of the workers’ movement, although he agreed with delegates’ comments to the effect that his ideas and teachings were present throughout the event.
“We cannot forget for one minute that we are dealing with a very powerful enemy, capable of resorting to any means to attain its goal of wiping the Revolution off the face of the Earth, leaving not even a minimal vestige of its existence,” he emphasized.
“Suffice it to glance through the so-called Bush Plan and recall its announced secret appendix to confirm that the empire is proposing to snatch away from our people every single one of our achievements won through so many years of struggle,” he added.
Raúl noted that Washington’s goal is “to put this country in a situation even more terrible than the one that existed in December 1958, in those times when repression, mourning, humiliation, misery, unemployment, illiteracy and disease dominated thousands of Cuban homes.”
“They have even designated a Yankee administrator, someone called McCarry, as if nothing had changed in this world since 1898, when they thwarted our independence and imposed a number of administrators over us,” he noted, alluding to U.S. intervention in the war at the end of the 19th century when the Cubans were victoriously combating their Spanish colonizers.
“The president of the United States is acting within that same absurd logic, when he says that there must be a transition in Cuba; that is, a shameful return to the garbage of neocolonial capitalism that they imposed in this country for exactly 60 years; or when they threatened us recently with the idea that they would be taking note of anyone who is opposed to that.”
“I repeat the advice that I gave him at that time: better to put on your list the annexationists on your Interests Section payroll, which are few, because you would need a lot of paper to write down the names of the millions of men and women who are ready to receive, gun in hand, their appointed administrator,” Raúl said to prolonged applause from the Congress delegates.
The likewise minister of the Revolutionary Armed Forces referred to efforts at the labor congress to find solutions to the main problems of the moment, which are different and more complex that in the 1970s, when the historic 13th Congress met - the last featuring the presence of labor leader Lázaro Peña.
Raúl pointed out that it would be an error to think that everything is resolved, and called on union cadres to define their main task in the midst of the diverse challenges of day-to-day life.
One of the most difficult goals in political work is getting workers to feel like they are the collective owners of society’s wealth, and to act as such, and he called on the working class, the essential force in building socialism, to resolutely face vices and deficiencies.
SALVADOR VALDES MESA, NEW CTC GENERAL SECRETARY
During the final session, the new CTC National Secretariat was presented, headed by Salvador Valdés Mesa. The organization’s 157-member National Council was also announced.
Delegates unanimously approved the Final Declaration of the Congress, its Central Report, and the 16 resolutions discussed in its nine commissions.
The struggle against the U.S. blockade; defense of the nation’s social progress, and demand for the freedom of the antiterrorist fighters imprisoned by Washington were all included in the Final Declaration.
The document also exposes and rejects the White House’s plans for destabilization and urges increased political, ideological and military training of the population.
“We once again ratify that the streets of Cuba belong and will belong to the revolutionaries, and will never be taken by the traitors,” it affirms.
In the document’s paragraph on self-determination, the island’s workers ratified their most profound conviction that in Cuba, the only transition will be toward more revolution, social justice and socialism.
CALL FOR DISCIPLINE AND TO CONTINUE COMBATING CRIME
The central report to Congress called for workers of the country to increase production with better order, organization and discipline.
The document, presented to nearly 500 delegates, highlighted the issue of employment and wages, and the country’s efforts to protect a significant number of workers located in centers that have reduced production due to restructuring processes, such as that undertaken by the Ministry of Sugar. At a cost of approximately $150 million pesos, 230,000 workers have retained their wages via relocation or enrollment in training courses, the text notes.
Likewise it refers to the need to bring production efficiency and productivity in line with the 2005 wage increases that benefited more than 5 million individuals.
The Congress ratified its will to continue the fight against crime and corruption.
After defining the defense of the homeland as one of the most important tasks of the working class, support from the Territorial Militia Troops and the active participation of workers in the Bastion Army were commended.
At this congress, representatives of the 3,390,000-plus CTC affiliates spoke of better leadership by the labor unions in the promotion of fixed socio-economic goals.
During the debates in commissions, members of the Council of Ministers responded to the concerns of delegates and offered information about current programs in effect throughout the nation.
The CTC was founded January 28, 1939 as a result of the historic struggles of Cubans for workers’ unity.
The organization, to which 96% of workers on the island belong, has contributed to the constant revolutionary transformation of the country.
http://www.granma.cu/ingles/2006/septiembre/juev28/40clausura.html
Cuba's Labour Movement: a rainbow of genders, colours and ages
Most representative Congress ever
Havana, Sep 27.- An unavoidable observation when looking at the over 1,400 delegates at the 19th Congress of the Central Organization of Cuban Workers (CTC) Congress is the rainbow of gender, skin color and ages that comprises the island's labor leadership in representation of the Cuba's workforce.
The 19th CTC Congress takes place at the Havana Convention Center and major issues revolving around ways to increase productivity, efficiency, controls and worker income are being tackled.
For the majority it is their first congress while for others it's a tradition. CTC founding member Faustino Calcines Gordillo may be well up in his years but he is closely following the congress debates. "I was a leader in the CTC for many years and the congress interests me in general, but especially the results. The topics under discussion, the way they are being discussed... looking for things that need to be improved."
"Job discipline, the compliance with work norms, increasing productivity and everything that concerns the workers, the main force of this country, is of interest to me," he adds with enthusiasm.
When asked what led to the drop in work discipline, theft and low productivity in the Special Period that followed the collapse of the Soviet Union, Calcines said: "It's hard to explain. But work discipline must exist in each workplace in order to produce with efficiency,,, and perhaps there was a lack of controls, of the union leaders themselves."
Without getting into details, the veteran labor man also pointed to "many aspects involving management that led to theft... Not being demanding enough of the workers led to indiscipline," he assessed.
Calcines said for some union representatives having not lived the experience under capitalism or participating in the class struggle took its toll.
While expressing much optimism about the CTC congress, Calcines noted with great pride that despite over 45 years of the US blockade and other forms of hostility, the island is contributing to other countries with education and healthcare assistance.
Lissett Barnes Ela is the general secretary of the Education, Science and Sports workers union in the far eastern Cuban province of Guantanamo. She said she is pleased so far with the discussions having participated on a commission of retirees and social security recipients.
"We could evaluate, analyze and make proposals to be voted on by the plenary."
Barnes said retirees should be able to take part in all union activities. "Their experience can strengthen the workforce." She agreed with a proposal from another commission stating the retirees returning to work should continue to receive their pensions along with the new salary.
"In our sector [education] we have also been looking for incentive mechanisms to get retirees to serve as tutors for young people studying to be teachers," said Barnes.
The innovative proposal, along with the already existing university for the elderly program, is giving new impetus to a generation that lived their youth before the Cuban revolution.
Barnes went on to explain that the indiscipline and theft in many workplaces that occurred in Cuba during the "Special Period", is a matter of values noting, "we are aware of our role."
"This is a fundamental issue, and the teaching of values is our main role as educators. We are teaching young people to be conscientious, have good habits and abilities... and to have a lot of humanism."
Barnes went on to note one of the greatest achievements of what had been a discriminatory and racist pre-revolution society. "In the education, higher education and sports job sectors this no longer exists. We have a very balanced mix of men and women in the different decision making positions and the same balance is visible in the labor force."
Mildrey Trujillo, a member of the Chemical, Mining and Energy Union within the 19-branch Cuban Workers Federation, was invited to attend the CTC Congress. "It's the most important event for the working class," she said before the morning session began.
When asked what she felt needs to occur for workers salaries to be substantially increased she said: "What we have to do is raise production efficiency and produce a lot more.
She, like Lissett Barnes, maintained that to date their salaries cover basic needs. "There was a salary increase, but what is needed is more production."
Regarding theft and indiscipline at the workplace Trujillo said "To me its because of a lack of controls. More controls are needed. It's not a problem of salaries." She adds, "the unions have a vital role to play alongside management.
Mario Millet Ronquillo, general secretary of the metallurgic union in the province of Santiago de Cuba, added: "What is needed to enable further salary increases is a greater link between productivity, the worker and the results. The workers should know the final results of their production and the contributions of each worker."
"What we are proposing is trying to implement the fundamental law of socialism, that each according to his work and each according to his capacity. Hopefully this can be implemented in all areas, at all work centers, and with all workers," said Millet.
On the issue of theft and other forms of indiscipline at the workplace, pointed out by President Fidel Castro in a speech last November, the metallurgic union representative said, "We have been holding assemblies to discuss the indiscipline that has existed in some workplaces. I believe we are winning the battle."
"Discipline has improved. I believe the union has a big task ahead and we have to continue strengthening the consciousness of the workers. We must demonstrate that the way to emerge from the Special Period is not through theft, but through awareness," he adds.
Regarding a need for improved controls Millet said "management plays a fundamental role because it is responsible for the resources assigned to it." He added that the control systems have been improving with more systematic audits "which help to manage material, financial and human resources."
Pedro Miranda, of the metallurgical union of Havana province, chimed in that internal workplace regulations are important to combat both indiscipline and theft. He noted that there is already a law calling for such norms, which serves as a very important element to strengthen discipline at each workplace.
Pointing to the rainbow of colors, gender and ages at the CTC Congress, Mario Millet noted that the delegates are from different sectors, with varied educational levels and different races, "Although we really have only one race, the Cuban one."
He said that diversity is also present in the different ministries.
"Women in Cuba are pretty much on the same level as the men in work opportunities. There are women that head government ministries and that run important business enterprises. The important thing is being able to do the job." (AIN/Taken from Trabajadores)
http://www.cadenagramonte.cubaweb.cu/english/news/september_06/270906_05.asp
Workers’ Congress calls for increase in production and services
Raúl Castro chairing event sessions
FIRST Vice-President Raúl Castro chaired the sessions of the 19th Congress of the Central Organization of Cuban Workers (CTC), whose delegates sent a message to Fidel wishing him a full recovery.
The final report of the Congress called for workers of the country to increase production with better order, organization and discipline.
The document recognizes the efforts of workers during the Special Period - a crisis that began in the 90’s with the disappearance of socialism in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe-and in particular their contribution to economic advances over the past five years, although it called for a achieving a genuine work ethic based on strict control over social resources and goods.
In this effort grassroots labor organizations must play a vital role, specifies the report, which recalled that "we will only have what we are capable of producing," citing the words of President Fidel Castro.
The document calls attention to business improvement, which has been the experience of some 800 enterprises to date and toward which principal efforts must be directed to substantially advance state business efficiency.
The report, presented to nearly 500 delegates, highlighted the issue of employment and wages, and the country’s efforts to protect a significant number of workers located in centers that have reduced production due to restructuring processes, such as that undertaken by the Ministry of Sugar. At a cost of approximately $150 million pesos, 230,000 workers have retained their wages via relocation or enrollment in training courses, the text notes.
Likewise it refers to the need to bring production efficiency and productivity in line with the 2005 wage increases that benefited more than 5 million individuals.
The Congress ratified its will to continue the fight against crime and corruption.
After defining the defense of the homeland as one of the most important tasks of the working class, support from the Territorial Militia Troops and the active participation of workers in the Bastion Army were commended.
The text calls for an increase in and improvement of workers’ training in the fulfillment of defense tasks in recognition of barbaric U.S. forays in other parts of the world.
Regarding trade union functions, the document states that structural changes at the base have been adapted to growing participation, although it acknowledges that in a large number of affiliated assemblies responses to problems are still insufficient and formalism persists.
The contribution of the National Association of Innovators and Rationalizers was significant in the recovery of productive capacities related to upgrading military technology, the recuperation of railroad and automotive transport, and energy conservation.
In the international sphere, the CTC agreed upon various instruments of coordination such as the International Council of the World Social Forum and the Continental Campaign against the FTAA, as well as the battle for the release of Gerardo Hernández, Ramón Labañino, Antonio Guerrero, Fernando González and René González, imprisoned in the United States for penetrating Miami extreme-right groups hostile to Cuba.
Presenting the report, Pedro Ross, general secretary of the CTC, said that the Congress marks a point at which the Cuban workers’ movement has retaken the path of development, in new conditions, after the Special Period.
Representatives of the 3,390,000-plus CTC affiliates spoke of better leadership by the labor unions in the promotion of fixed socio-economic goals.
During the debates in commissions, members of the Council of Ministers responded to the concerns of delegates and offered information about current programs in effect throughout the nation.
The CTC was founded January 28, 1939 as a result of the historic struggles of Cubans for workers’ unity.
The organization, to which 96% of workers on the island belong, has contributed to the constant revolutionary transformation of the country.
http://www.granma.cu/ingles/2006/septiembre/mier27/40ctc.html
Cuba’s Unions Look Inward for Solutions
By CIRCLES ROBINSON for TRABAJADORES Newspaper
Looking inwards for ways to make the Cuban economy reach its full potential was the tone of the second day of the Cuban Workers Federation’s (CTC) 19th Congress taking place through Wednesday in Havana.
The more than 1,400 delegates from throughout the island were paying heed to two burning issues posed by President Fidel Castro in the last year. One, the poor organization and low productivity in the implementation of some key social and economic programs of the revolution, and two, the most dangerous, widespread indiscipline and theft in the workplace.
The Cuban president had warned that while ten US administrations had been unable to destroy the revolution from without, the future of Cuba lies within.
Several commissions held hearings on Monday at the Havana Convention Center and other venues in the capital where candid exchanges showed a renewed resilience in a labor movement often ignored by the foreign corporate media, which writes it off as “pro-government.”
The most well attended session was the commission on employment, organization of the workplace and salaries chaired by Luis Manuel Castanedo, a CTC leader and worker’s representative in the Cuban parliament.
Improving accounting and other controls at work centers was cited by several delegates as essential to rectify errors produced by negligence. Several delegates said a combination of administrative laxness and worker passivity in recent years has led to many of the problems persisting in the fast growing Cuban economy.
Minister of Labor Alfredo Morales and Political Bureau member Jose Luis Sierra were two of several top level government and Communist Party leaders that joined the labor movement in the commission debates.
Morales pointed out that Cuban workers are the owners of the island’s economy and as such should defend it. He noted that Cuba’s worker-friendly labor laws and resolutions are tools that must be used, adding that with better organization and higher productivity, “we could advance much more with the resources we have.”
The minister said that in capitalist countries increased productivity leads to lay offs, noting that is not the case in Cuba, a country that maintains practically full employment (1.9 unemployment rate) of the working age population.
Jose Luis Sierra told the commission that thorough warehouse audits revealed deficiencies in control systems including bad practices in billing, orders and deliveries. He said this is one of the problems the labor movement must confront. He also called for an analysis of the workplace atmosphere to understand why it is common for workers to shift jobs and why there is a lack of workers in numerous sectors.
“What’s most important here is that the labor movement is becoming aware of the role it needs to play to correct its own inadequacies and participate in the solution to the country’s problems,” Sierra told Trabajadores after the days session.
The political leader sees the “inward focus” as positive for labor. “The problems being discussed [at the CTC Congress] are fundamental because we have to achieve efficiency if we want to develop. They are discussing efficiency, productivity, salaries, how to lower costs and expenditures and about worker participation in planning, and that’s important,” said Sierra.
Regarding salaries, chairman Castanedo said the raising of the low-end earners was just, even though some other workers complained that their wages didn’t keep pace. He insisted that greater controls are needed for there to be efficiency and productivity, opening the possibility to more salary hikes.
The long day came to an end with the union representatives taking a break from discussions on the advances and problems in the island’s economy to attend an evening cultural gala at Havana’s Karl Marx Theatre.
The CTC Congress resumes on Tuesday morning in plenary session at 9:00 a.m. with the election of a new Secretariat followed by the official opening at 10:00 a.m. The next agenda item is the presentation and discussion of the main report expected to last the afternoon.
http://www.periodico26.cu/english/news_cuba/ctc092606.htm
