As the private sector's presence expands in Cuba, the Central de Trabajadores de Cuba (CTC), the only union sanctioned by the government, recently conducted its Provincial Conference in Pinar del Río, gearing up for its 22nd Congress. During this meeting, CTC's Secretary General, Ulises Guilarte de Nacimiento, emphasized the challenges the organization faces with the rising number of workers in non-state management roles, which now account for over 13% of the active workforce, according to a report from NTV.
"More than 13% of the economically active population in the country now works under non-state management forms. This presents significant challenges for the union in terms of leadership, recognition of these workers, ensuring their organization, and their unionization," Guilarte de Nacimiento stated, highlighting the regime's intention to control and oversee a sector operating outside traditional state structures.
Adapting to Economic Shifts Amid Contradictions
The concern over unionizing private sector workers doesn't exist in isolation. In recent years, the regime has attempted to adapt its centralized socialist model to an economic reality demanding greater openness. However, these adaptations have been marked by persistent state control.
In 2024, the Cuban government introduced new regulations for the private sector, including micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), cooperatives, and self-employed workers. Despite this, President Miguel Díaz-Canel has frequently blamed this sector for issues like economic liquidity shortages while simultaneously trying to draw it into the ideological fold of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC).
The proposal to establish PCC and Union of Young Communists (UJC) base committees within MSMEs aims to "ensure unity" and maintain political control in these structures. The push to unionize non-state workers aligns with this control strategy. Since 2021, union fees have significantly increased, reaching up to 600 pesos annually, eliciting backlash even among state workers, who are traditionally compelled to join.
Structural Challenges and Ineffective Rhetoric
During the CTC conference in Pinar del Río, discussions also covered topics like food production, economic diversification through innovation, and demands on local administrations. However, these conversations overlooked the structural failures of the centralized economic model that limits both state and private sectors.
While the regime openly acknowledges its inability to pay wages and the ongoing economic crisis, it continues to push a narrative of demands on workers and private businesses instead of implementing deeper reforms for greater economic autonomy. Amidst repression of the private sector, such as the recent mass cancellation of commercial licenses, the union's talk of "leadership" and "organization" among these workers seems paradoxical.
Control Versus Economic Freedom
The increasing involvement of non-state sector workers in the economy highlights the contradictions of a regime trying to retain control over an area that demands more freedom. MSMEs, cooperatives, and self-employed individuals have emerged as a response to the state's inability to meet the population's needs, yet they face a restrictive regulatory environment hindering their growth.
The CTC's focus on unionizing this sector is part of a broader political and ideological control strategy. However, the union's lack of representation and its subordination to the regime raise doubts about its ability to defend these workers' interests in an economically uncertain and repressive environment.
The push to unionize non-state sector workers reflects both the acknowledgment of their growing significance and the regime's concern over keeping them under control. Nonetheless, in a country where independent unionism is prohibited and the state regulates every aspect of economic life, it's challenging to believe this measure will genuinely benefit the workers. Instead, it could serve as another tool to reinforce state control and stifle the economic autonomy aspirations this sector represents.
Meanwhile, Cuban workers, both state and non-state, continue to grapple with the challenges of a crisis-stricken economy, with little hope for significant improvements under the current conditions.
FAQs on Unionization of Non-State Workers in Cuba
Why is the CTC focusing on unionizing non-state workers?
The CTC aims to control and oversee the increasing number of workers in the private sector, which now makes up over 13% of the active workforce, to ensure adherence to state policies and maintain political control.
What challenges do non-state workers face in Cuba?
Non-state workers face a restrictive regulatory environment that limits their growth, amid accusations of contributing to economic problems, and the potential for increased state control through unionization efforts.
How does the Cuban government regulate the private sector?
The Cuban government regulates the private sector by imposing strict rules and often blames it for economic issues, while attempting to integrate it into the ideological framework of the Communist Party.