Trade union leaders of the regime in Guantánamo called on workers to "defend the homeland, sovereignty, and independence" during May Day, at an event characterized by the usual political rhetoric.
The statement was made by Juana Eglis Fernández Louit, Secretary General of the Central Workers' Union of Cuba (CTC) in the province, during the official launch of the event in the eastern part of the country.
The event took place at a company specializing in Flora and Fauna, recognized as a National Vanguard of the agricultural union, and brought together union leaders to announce the program of activities.
According to images broadcast by the state channel Canal Caribe, the event was described as “combative and patriotic,” in line with the official slogan “The Homeland is defended,” promoted by the regime for the mobilization on May 1, 2026.
The planned activities include volunteer work, blood donations, races, and parades, on a day that will also be dedicated to the centenary of Fidel Castro's birth and the XXII Congress of the CTC.
The national call was presented on April 12 by the official trade union organization. During this event, leader Osnay Miguel Colina Rodríguez urged a May Day “that shakes us as a nation,” appealing for unity and commitment.
The Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz joined on April 14 through his social media, describing the day as one of revolutionary reaffirmation, unity, and commitment, stating that defending the Revolution means contributing.
The call occurs in the context of the worst energy and economic crisis in Cuba in decades, worsened after the capture of Nicolás Maduro in January 2026, which interrupted the shipments of Venezuelan oil of between 25,000 and 30,000 barrels daily, and the suspension of Mexican supplies due to pressure from the United States.
Independent economists project a contraction of the Cuban Gross Domestic Product by 7.2% in 2026, with 89% of the population living in extreme poverty.
Far from being an independent celebration of workers, May Day in Cuba is a massive political mobilization organized and controlled by the CTC, the only union allowed in the country, which acts as a transmission belt for the Communist Party.
In previous editions, such as that of 2025, there were documented repercussions against those who did not participate, including loss of benefits and threats of dismissal, and the event was criticized by journalists and religious figures as a display of political obedience, rather than a genuine tribute to workers.
Fernández Louit, who has been in the Cuban labor movement for 25 years and coordinates 15 unions with more than 138,000 members in Guantánamo, echoed in her statement the official speech of the national call, which urges to defend the homeland from the fields, factories, classrooms, scientific centers, thermoelectric plants, hospitals, culture, and sports.
Amid power outages, shortages, and an unprecedented economic crisis, the official call to "defend sovereignty" contrasts with the daily struggles of millions of Cubans. For many, May Day remains more a demonstration of political control than a genuine expression of the rights and demands of workers.
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