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HAVANA, Cuba, Nov 22 (ACN) Ulises Guilarte de Nacimiento, member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of Cuba and secretary general of the Cuban Worker´s Federation (CTC), presented the Friendship Medal to the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union of Canada (UFCW).

In presenting the award to Paul Meinema, president of that Canadian workers' organization, Guilarte de Nacimiento expressed that it is a humble sign of Cuba's respect and affection for the Canadian union, with which they have joined more than 20 years of relations of solidarity and brotherhood.

I have the deepest conviction that this decoration will favor the consolidation of our already historic friendly relations," said the Cuban union leader.

Meinema said he was deeply grateful for the gesture and pointed out that it constitutes a new commitment of cooperation and solidarity with the working class and the Cuban people.

The Canadian leader stressed that his union is committed to social justice and firmly believes in solidarity.

The Cuban and Canadian unions gathered here, he said, are close no matter how much more than the kind of work they do: they are united by the values they believe in; that is why there is an undeniable connection between the organization it represents and the entire Cuban labor movement, he said.

Victor Lemagne Sanchez, general secretary of the National Union of Hotel and Tourism Workers (SNTHT), said that in these 20 years the challenges have been many, which have been faced with the clear vision of better union work, with the goal of achieving superior results.

The current times call for more unity in the face of the unjust and unequal international economic order and the impact of neoliberal policies, as well as discrimination and the loss of labor and social gains, he said.

Lemagne Sánchez thanked the Canadian union for its support in the Cuban denunciation against the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed on the largest of the Antilles by the United States.

At the proposal of the secretariats of the National Unions, the CTC also imposed on the Canadian trade unionists the commemorative stamps for the founding of the Trade, Gastronomy and Services, and Hotel and Tourism Unions.

Likewise, the work and support of Cuban organizations, institutions and companies was recognized, which with their collaboration have made possible the outstanding and manifest solidarity actions that are being celebrated today.