May Day Speech by General Secretary of Cuban Workers Federation

HAVANA, Cuba, May 1 (acn) May 1st Speech by Ulises Guilarte de Nacimiento, General Secretary of Cuban Workers Federation (CTC by its Spanish acronym.

Comrade Army General Raul Castro Ruz, First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba.

Comrade Miguel Diaz Canel-Bermudez, President of the Councils of State and Ministers.

Distinguished guests

Dear workers:

In this historic moment for the Homeland, millions of Cubans stage throughout the country another massive and popular demonstration to celebrate the International Workers Day, using the motto Unity, Commitment and Victory, in a moment in which we develop from the trade union bases the organic process to the 21^st Congress of the CTC, which will finish next year marking the 80th anniversary of its foundation.

We have many reasons and arguments to turn this May Day into a new demonstration of support for our Revolution; to Raul, First Secretary of the Cuban Communist Party; to the continuity of his leadership in the State and Government headed by comrade Diaz Canel; it´s also a scenario to pay homage to its historic leader Fidel Castro and ratify the firm determination to comply with the concept of revolution he bequeathed us.

On this occasion, we are called by transcendental commemorations, expression of the heroic traditions of struggle that make us proud of being Cubans and dignify the history of our country, such as the 165^th anniversary of the birth of the National Hero Jose Marti; the 150th anniversary of the start of the wars for Cuba´s independence, the 65th anniversary of the assault on the Moncada and Carlos Manuel de Cespedes barracks and the 60th anniversary of the triumph of the Revolution.

At the same time, the images of outstanding workers leaders that we carry today in this multitudinous parade as Lazaro Peña, Jesus Menendez, Jose Maria Perez, Aracelio Iglesias and others closely linked to the union struggles are the testimony of our recognition and eternal gratitude to their example of fidelity and strength.

In the same way, in the compact and colorful parades in the squares of the entire country will be heard the demand for the cessation of the genocidal economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed on Cuba, which is now intensified; the voice of a people that demands the devolution of the territory illegally occupied by the Guantanamo naval base will be raised, likewise we denounce the aggressive and interventionist action of the United States government.

Compatriots:

The strategic battle in the economic-productive field from the companies, budgeted units and non-state forms of management, amid the complexities that we live today, requires as never before the contribution of workers to raise and diversify productions in a sustained way, increase exports and improve the quality of services, along with the necessary efficiency of the investment process executed in the development programs all along the country.

To achieve these purposes, we are fully aware of the responsibility of the working class in generating the wealth our people need to meet their needs, preserve social gains and raise the real income of workers and retirees.

Today it is not possible to forget that we live in a world characterized by an unjust, unequal and exclusionary international economic order, where the offensive of imperialism and its neoliberal policies continues making impact on the labor world.

Labor reforms recently applied in several countries have eliminated collective bargaining agreements, poverty and precarious contracts are growing, large waves of migrant workers do not have the minimum guarantees of their labor rights, in the same way unemployment increases with greater incidence in young people and women, along with the propaganda display to delegitimize the class role of unions.

Cuba and its trade union movement reaffirm their unwavering commitment and militant solidarity with the peoples who fight for their sovereignty and independence in the world, and endorse the cause of humble people to build, in midst of diversity, a great homeland as result of cooperation, political agreement, and integration.

The Summit of the Peoples and the forums organized by OAS in Peru were an irrefutable proof, there more than 170 representatives of the legitimate Cuban civil society, many of them young people, demanded the nonintervention in the internal affairs of the countries and they stood out by the strength of their arguments and the conviction with which they defended themselves against mercenaries and unpatriotic persons.

Therefore, with the right we have in our revolutionary practice, from this historic square we reaffirm the unconditional support to the Bolivarian Revolution and its President Nicolas Maduro, committed to defend the dignity of Bolívar's homeland and Hugo Chavez’s legacy.

We also express all the solidarity of the trade union movement and the Cuban people with Nicaragua, the Sandinista National Liberation Front and the government led by Commander Daniel Ortega and Vice President Rosario Murillo.

We also express our support and eternal solidarity with fellow Luis Inacio Lula Da Silva and the struggles of the Brazilian people.

We are happy to greet comrades and friends of different trade union organizations, solidarity groups and social movements who with their presence endorse their unconditional support for our struggle to achieve a better world.

Comrades:

The International Workers' Day is a convincing demonstration of the solid foundations of our glorious revolution, of the majority support of the workers and the people to the updating of our socio-economic model.

The motto: Unity, Commitment and Victory synthesize our present and future decision to continue building a sovereign, independent, socialist, democratic, prosperous and sustainable nation.

Go ahead compatriots, nothing and nobody will stop us.

Long live Cuban and world workers

Long live Fidel and Raul

Till victory always