Los Angeles, CA
The AFL-CIO believes that the United States government should take every step to support a peaceful transition to democracy in Cuba by expanding support for initiatives to aid the Cuban people in their struggle for democracy and human rights on the island.
The AFL-CIO will continue to work with its allies in the international labor movement to support these initiatives, and to call for increased international attention to the reality of multinational companies profiting from the ongoing worker rights violations in Cuba. We strongly condemn and deplore the absence of internationally recognized worker rights and democratic freedoms in Cuba.
Tragically, the suffering of Cuban children and the elderly has only worsened under the repressive practices of the regime. The visit of Pope John Paul II in 1998, as well the ICFTU-ORIT-International Trade Union Secretariat mission to the island in the same year, drew worldwide attention to this suffering and served as a moral call to the world to take all necessary action.
In light of this suffering and as a humanitarian gesture, the AFL-CIO believes that the time has come for the United States to amend its economic embargo to permit sending of medicine, medical supplies and food to the island, with a special effort to deliver these through organizations like the church and other groups not directly a part of the Castro government. We believe that this initiative will increase international support for efforts to secure democracy for the Cuban people.
We call on the Cuban government to release all political prisoners, legalize all political parties, grant recognition to independent labor unions and their activities and hold free, fair, democratic and internationally supervised elections.
For our part, the AFL-CIO will continue to act in solidarity with our sisters and brothers who are struggling to bring human rights and democracy to Cuba.