CFA: Report #411 | Case 3271

Sixth report of the Committee on Freedom of Association (CFA) of the International Labour Organization (ILO) on Case 3271, detailing the complaint of the Independent Trade Union Association of Cuba (ASIC) against the Cuban Government.

Summary

• Lack of Recognition and Systematic Repression. The core of the case is the Cuban government’s continued refusal to legally recognize the Independent Trade Union Association of Cuba (ASIC) and the campaign of repression against its members. This is not an isolated incident, but a long-standing issue.
• Allegations by ASIC. The union denounces “systematic violence” by the State, which includes:
  • Arbitrary detentions, interrogations, and threats by the State Security (DSE).
  • Threats of long prison sentences against key leaders, such as its General Secretary, for crimes like “mercenarism” (which can carry the death penalty).
  • Constant harassment and police surveillance of unionists’ homes to impede their movement and activities. Infiltration of DSE agents into its structures and pressure on its members to become informants and destabilize the organization from within.
  • Infiltration of DSE agents into its structures and pressuring members to become informants and destabilize the organization from within.”
• The Cuban Government. The regime systematically denies all allegations and uses a dual strategy:
  • Delegitimization: It insists that ASIC is not a genuine union, but a “subversive group” financed from abroad to destabilize the country.
  • Criminalization: It claims that detained members are not persecuted for their activism, but are “common criminals” with “antisocial behavior,” while refusing to provide the evidence (rulings, investigation reports) requested by the ILO.
• The Committee’s Conclusion. The Committee expresses its “deep concern” over the complete lack of progress and the deteriorating situation. It does not find the government’s version credible, criticizing it for failing to provide evidence. It reaffirms that ASIC has every right to exist as a workers’ organization under international standards.
• Most Urgent Recommendation: A Direct Contacts Mission. Given the broken dialogue and the seriousness of the allegations, the most crucial recommendation is the Committee’s insistence that the government accept a “direct contacts mission.” This would allow the ILO to investigate the facts directly in Cuba, something the government continues to reject. This refusal is seen as a sign of a lack of will to resolve the conflict.