Brighton, 9 September.- Ambassador Ismara Vargas Walter addressed at a fringe
meeting dedicated to solidarity with Cuba during the 156th Annual Conference of the
British Trades Union Congress (TUC). At the meeting, held on 9 September 2024 in
Brighton, the Ambassador reiterated her deep gratitude to the TUC and British trade
unions for their support and solidarity with the Cuban people and workers. In particular,
she expressed his gratitude for the efforts and support of solidarity in the UK towards
Cuba in the most difficult moments that our Revolution has gone through, as a
consequence of the US economic blockade for more than 62 years, which has been
intensified during the presidency of Donald Trump.
The Ambassador thanked the great work carried out by the Cuba Solidarity Campaign,
as the largest organisation promoting solidarity with our country in the United Kingdom
of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, particularly with the Viva la Educación appeal in
2023 and the current Cuba Vive appeal, which has already raised more than £90,000 to
send solidarity aid in medical supplies to Cuba, with the support of 14 national and
regional trade unions, with the aim of reaching £100,000.
Also speaking at the event were Fran Heathcote, Public and Commercial Services
Union (PCS); Barbara Plant, President of General, Municipal, and Boilermakers’ Union
(GMB); Riccardo La Torre, National Officer of Fire Brigades Union (FBU); Kevin
Courtney, Chair of Cuba Solidarity Campaign (CSC); Alex Tarrier from Thompsons
Solicitors; and Sarah Woolley, General Secretary of Bakers, Food and Allied Workers’
Union (BFAWU). All they expressed their opposition against the blockade and the
inclusion of Cuba in the List of State Sponsors of Terrorism.
The TUC has historically maintained friendly relations and solidarity with the Central de
Trabajadores de Cuba (CTC). CTC General Secretary Ulises Guilarte participated in the
151 st 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.