Cuba experienced an unprecedented situation on Tuesday with a spontaneous strike by a group of workers, just a few days after May Day, celebrated exceptionally this year on Friday the 5th. Workers from Antillana de Acero stood up, apparently due to non-payment of their salaries in the last two months, causing the cancellation of the rail service that goes from Artemisa to Havana.
The news, which was already circulating on social networks, was confirmed this Wednesday by the Provincial Directorate of Transport on its Facebook account, although at no time did it cite the causes that led to the “negligence of the crew”, as the official note on the reason calls it. suspension of service.
“The Union of Railways of Cuba, together with the authorities of the province, created a commission to investigate the causes and conditions that originated this unfortunate incident and apply the corresponding organizational and disciplinary measures, so that events like these are not repeated.” , argues the note.
The passengers, according to official information, were transferred by bus and “the conditions were created to restore rail service at the established times,” the text adds, apologizing to those affected.
Reactions to the note have been mostly furious. Users ask the authorities for explanations about the alleged non-payment of between two and three months of salary to the workers and demand their right to demand it.
“The first measure to take is to make them pay on time and in the proper way, the high prices are already enough for them to also fall behind with the misery they pay,” claims a commentator. “They stopped the train because they don’t get paid. And it seems they think they don’t have a family. It’s not easy, and now there’s a penalty, when those who should be punished are responsible for not being paid,” laments another.
“Our ‘government’ is a good collector and a very bad payer,” another user added. “To cite just one example, in my municipality there are peasants who owe three months of milk payment to the industry. Solution: they sell it themselves at a better price to people and do not deliver it. I assure you that nobody has a logical and coherent explanation about the issue of non-payments. Many of these peasants depend on that payment to support their families. Really, if they did it as a form of protest, their courage is admirable. In the end, it is the only way for them to see your problem,” he said.
Although some commentators point out that the affected travelers did not have to pay for the inconvenience by being late for their own jobs, most understand the use of this mechanism in the face of the irresponsibility of the company.
“I imagine that after talking to the passengers about their concerns, they would do the same with the workers to see what their concern was, right?”
The Municipal Administration of Artemisa also commented on the publication, attaching photographs of the buses that made the transfer. In their message they claim the speed with which the “political, governmental and administrative” authorities resolved the situation and shared the concerns with the passengers, but that has not calmed the solidarity of the users with the workers. “I imagine that after talking to the passengers about their concerns, they would do the same with the workers to see what their concern was, right?” asks a commentator.
Cuban legislation does not provide for the right to strike, and although it is not expressly prohibited, it is known that in practice it is not possible to exercise it. According to a extensive report of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, of the Organization of American States (IACHR/OAS), “it can be concluded that in Cuba the right to strike is not recognized and that, in practice, it is outlawed and is punishable”.
In addition, there is no freedom of union affiliation either, since the only union allowed is the official Central de Trabajadores Cubanos, subordinate to the Communist party and, therefore, to the Government. Thus, Cuban workers are defenseless in matters of collective bargaining or joint defense of their rights.
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