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AFT's letter to Fidel Castro
April 2, 2003
H.E. Fidel Castro Ruiz
President
Republic of Cuba
Plaza de la Revolución
Havana, CUBA
Dear President Castro:
On behalf of the American Federation of Teachers, AFL-CIO, I am
writing to strongly protest the deliberate violation of fundamental
labor rights perpetrated by your government.
We recently learned that over twenty labor activists and independent
journalists were arrested on March 18, 2003. In addition, state
security agents raided the home of Pedro Pablo Alvarez, General
Secretary of the Consejo Unitario de Trabajadores Cubanos (CUTC),
and confiscated his personal documents, as well as office equipment
belonging to the CUTC. These actions blatantly violate ILO Conventions
87, Freedom of Association, and 89, Right to Organize, which Cuba
ratified in 1952.
On behalf of the 1.3 million members of the American Federation
of Teachers, I demand that your government immediately release these
labor leaders and journalists. AFT members pledge to stand in solidarity
with all Cuban workers who choose to organize independent unions
and we will urge the international labor community to do the same.
Sincerely,
Sandra Feldman
President
cc: Education International
Public Services International
International Confederation of Free Trade Unions
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