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The Central Workers' Union of Cuba (CTC), the only legally permitted union under the Cuban regime, blamed the United States for the deprivation and impoverishment experienced by the working class on the island, arguing that the "imperial arrogance" of the neighboring country is the cause of the material shortages and difficulties faced by Cuban workers.
In a statement published by the official newspaper Trabajadores, the CTC rejected Cuba's inclusion on the list of state sponsors of terrorism, calling it a "farce" and attributing the country's economic difficulties to what it refers to as the U.S. "blockade."
The labor organization, controlled by the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC), stated that "the working class is one of the most affected by such imperial arrogance", while also praising the "pride in the resistance" of the workers.
However, regime critics question the official narrative and point out that the Cuban economic crisis is largely due to the inefficiency of the centralized planning system, endemic corruption, and the lack of economic freedoms that hinder the development of the private sector.
Despite the creation of union structures in the Mipymes, as various reports indicate, Cuban workers continue to lack a true independent representation that defends their rights against an omnipresent State.
The strategy of the Cuban totalitarian regime to blame external factors for the shortage of basic supplies in hospitals, schools, and factories does not convince large segments of the population who, in recent years, have led protests demanding better living conditions and democratic freedoms.
Is it the "imperial arrogance" of the United States that prevents Cuban workers from receiving their meager salaries on time due to lack of liquidity in the banks? Are the mobilizations imposed by the Cuban totalitarian regime a response to this "imperial arrogance"? Is it the "imperial arrogance" of the neighboring country that prevents Cuban workers from having dignified pensions, enjoying vacations or lacking adequate protective gear?
The CTC's call for "unity and resistance" among workers to "correct distortions and reinvigorate the economy" is paradoxical for a workforce that suffers from low wages, uncontrollable inflation, and an accelerated deterioration of working conditions.
The recent initiatives of the regime, such as the creation of base committees in Mipymes to ensure their loyalty to the PCC, have been interpreted as a control strategy rather than a genuine measure of union empowerment.
Amid an escalating economic crisis and an increasingly precarious job environment, Cuban workers continue to be hostages of an official narrative that prioritizes propaganda over addressing the structural problems facing the country.
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