London, 13 September 2021- The Cuban Ambassador to the United Kingdom, Bárbara Montalvo Álvarez, participated this Monday in a virtual event of solidarity with Cuba, in the context of the 153rd British Trade Union Congress (TUC), which is taking place from 12 to 14 September.
During her speech, the Cuban diplomat reiterated her deep gratitude to the TUC and the British trade unions for their support and solidarity with the Cuban people and workers, especially during the pandemic.
Montalvo also gave an update on the vaccination program on the island and exemplified how the blockade hinders access to essential medical supplies for the development of this program, as recognised by the British NGO Oxfam in a press release published on 25 May.
During the meeting, a message was delivered by the Secretary General of the CTC (Cuban Workers Central, by its Spanish initials), Ulises Guilarte de Nacimiento, who addressed the impact of the global pandemic on the world of work. He added that in the case of Cuba, they have also had to face the effects of the tightening of the blockade, as well as the media manipulation campaign financed by the US government calling for civil unrest and acts of vandalism against the national economic infrastructure.
In addition, Ulises Guilarte ratified the CTC's support for the TUC and the British trade unions in "the fight against injustice, for the defence of peace and workers' rights".
Niurka González Obera, General Secretary of the National Union of Education, Science and Sports Workers of Cuba, and Santiago Badía González, General Secretary of the National Union of Health Workers, reaffirmed their solidarity with their British counterpart unions.
Also speaking at the event were Navendu Mishra (Labour), Member of the British Parliament; Kevin Courtney, Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union (NEU); Dave Ward, General Secretary of the Communication Workers Union (CWU); Mariela Kohon, Senior International Officer of the TUC; Tony Woodhouse, Chair of the Unite Executive Committee; Zita Holbourne, Vice President of the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS); Diana Holland and Rob Miller, Chair and Director respectively of the Cuba Solidarity Campaign.
The TUC and the CTC have historically maintained friendly and collaborative relations. CTC General Secretary Ulises Guilarte participated in the 151st Congress of the British trade union centre in September 2019. On that occasion, a motion of solidarity with the island and condemnation of the blockade was passed.