Geneva, Switzerland, June 2, 2026. The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) issued a public statement today on the sidelines of the 114th International Labour Conference taking place at this UN headquarters, calling for urgent international action to support Cuba in the face of the intensification of the US economic blockade, including the energy siege.
The ITUC is the world's largest trade union organization and the leading international voice of workers. It represents 191 million workers in 163 countries.
The Confederation condemned the new measures imposed by the United States against Cuba on January 29 and May 1 of this year, and warned of their serious consequences for Cuban workers.
In its statement, the CSI indicates that power outages of up to 20 hours caused by the fuel blockade have forced hospitals to suspend non-urgent surgeries; fuel shortages are limiting ambulance services and delaying access to critical care; more than 100,000 patients, including 11,000 children, are awaiting surgeries delayed by power cuts and supply shortages; neonatal mortality has doubled due to the lack of a stable electricity supply to power life support equipment; and medical care cannot be guaranteed for nearly five million people with chronic illnesses, including 16,000 radiotherapy patients and 12,000 chemotherapy patients.
“The Cuban people have the right to live and work in dignity, free from measures that damage their economic and social well-being,” the ITUC emphasizes in its statement. “We demand dialogue, international solidarity and respect for international law to protect peace, workers’ rights, and social justice in the region.”
“Urgent and coordinated efforts are needed now to stop conditions from worsening. We call on governments to reject actions that further escalate tensions and to support international cooperation aimed at guaranteeing access to energy, healthcare, food, and essential services for the Cuban population,” concludes the International Trade Union Confederation’s statement in support of Cuba.