Authorities from the Communist Party and the Government in the province of Villa Clara paid tribute to Ulises Guilarte de Nacimiento, who was replaced as the head of the Central Workers' Union of Cuba by Osnay Miguel Colina Rodríguez, in a ceremony filled with praise and formal acknowledgments.
The meeting, held at the Hospitality and Events Complex of the CTC in Villa Clara, was presided over by the First Secretary of the PCC in the province, Susely Morfa González, and the Governor Milaxys Sánchez Armas.
According to the report from the provincial newspaper Vanguardia, the participants “agreed on the need to complete the union leadership, as well as better preparation regarding the new legal standards approved that protect workers, their rights and duties, and to increase the number of members from the non-state sector.”
Maglin del Sol Martínez, the general secretary of the provincial CTC, presented a recognition to the outgoing leader, while the Provincial Bureau of the PCC and the Government honored both Guilarte and his successor.
The authorities bid farewell to the former union leader, wishing him "success" in his new endeavors, while he announced that from September 8 to November 30, the draft Labor Code Law will be debated in the labor collectives.
It was the penultimate act of Guilarte before formally concluding the transfer of power in Havana, making it clear that, in Cuba, even the departure of a leader is managed with pomp and political control.
The Cuban regime announced on July 8 the removal of Guilarte, after more than 11 years at the head of the only allowed labor union on the island.
The decision was made during a session of the National Council of the CTC, as reported by the website of the PCC, without providing details about the reasons for the departure.
The official statement merely noted that Guilarte "was recognized for his performance" and that he would be assigned "other responsibilities."
Furthermore, the National Council decided to postpone the XXII Congress of the CTC until mid-2026, arguing that the municipal and provincial conference process has not yet been completed, and that the trade union organization must focus in the coming months on consulting the draft Labor Code law.
The restructuring of the trade union leadership takes place at a time of significant labor discontent in key sectors such as health, education, and transportation, and amid the multisystemic crisis that affects
The CTC, under the leadership of Guilarte since 2013, has been criticized for its inaction in the face of the severe economic crisis and the deterioration of living conditions for the Cuban working class.
Its role has been limited to reproducing the guidelines of the PCC, without genuinely representing the interests of the workers.
In recent months, Guilarte had reiterated, with the regime's characteristic rhetoric, the need to "continue calling" on the Cuban people for a "exercise of resistance" that is not only passive "but rather a mobilization of economic resources" to gather everything that "contributes reserves to transform the problem," he said in reference to the economic crisis facing the Island.
He also acknowledged the inability of the union organization he led to solve "all the problems," but he believed that if workers see their representatives talking about their concerns, they will trust them.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Dismissal of Ulises Guilarte from the CTC and the Labor Situation in Cuba
Why was Ulises Guilarte de Nacimiento removed from his position as Secretary General of the CTC?
The Cuban regime announced the dismissal of Ulises Guilarte de Nacimiento without providing details on the specific reasons for his departure. The decision was made during a session of the National Council of the CTC, merely acknowledging his performance and noting that he will be assigned other responsibilities. This lack of transparency is common in leadership changes within the structures of power in Cuba.
Who is the new Secretary General of the CTC?
Osnay Miguel Colina Rodríguez is the new general secretary of the Central Organization of Cuban Workers (CTC). Colina, 51 years old, holds a degree in Biochemistry and has had a career as a leader of the Communist Party at various levels. His appointment aims to create a favorable political environment and unity, in line with the objectives of the Party.
What is the current situation of the CTC amid the crisis in Cuba?
The CTC faces significant labor discontent in key sectors such as health, education, and transportation, amid a multisystemic crisis. Under the leadership of Ulises Guilarte since 2013, the organization has been criticized for its inaction in response to the severe economic crisis and the deterioration of living conditions for the Cuban working class, limiting itself to reproducing the guidelines of the Communist Party without genuinely representing the interests of the workers.
What changes are expected in Cuban labor leadership after Guilarte's replacement?
A restructuring of the union leadership is anticipated to address labor discontent and the economic crisis. The National Council of the CTC has decided to postpone the XXII Congress until mid-2026, focusing on consulting the draft Law of the Labor Code. The new leadership, led by Osnay Miguel Colina Rodríguez, faces the challenge of better representing the interests of workers amid the crisis.
Filed under: