The visiting trade union delegation was comprised of Leonel González, CTC director of international relations and a deputy in Cuba's National Assembly; Olga Rosa Gómez, general secretary of the National Union of Cultural Workers and also a deputy in the National Assembly; and Manuel Montero, head of the CTC's department of international relations for the Americas.

The three union leaders, whose speaking tour is being organized by the U.S.-Cuba Labor Exchange, had visited Massachusetts, New York, Ohio, Tennessee, and North Carolina before arriving in California. In this state they also spoke at meetings in San Jose and San Francisco.

A citywide meeting of 100 people was a highlight of the tour stop. The event was held at a hall of the Union of Needletrades, Industrial and Textile Employees (UNITE). Before the program the Cuban unionists met a number of garment workers.

The guest speakers were introduced by Christina Vasquez, a West Coast UNITE official, and John Connolly, an official of the Screen Actors Guild. Actors in the guild have been on strike for more than three months against advertising production companies over issues of pay and job conditions.

The visit also included a reception hosted by AFL-CIO County Federation of Labor secretary-treasurer Miguel Contreras. Among others at this gathering were representatives of the Service Employees International Union and the Hotel and Restaurant Employees union, both of which have been involved in recent organizing drives.

At the reception, González spoke of the history of the Cuban revolution, and of the impact of the economic embargo imposed on Cuba by successive U.S. governments. "Cuba affirms its sovereignty, the right to construct the type of system we want," he said. The Cuban unionists urged AFL-CIO officials they met with to oppose the embargo.

González enthusiastically told of meeting fruit pickers who are members of the United Farm Workers union in Farmersville, California. The union leaders were also guests of honor at a informal meeting with 11 members of the International Association of Machinists and Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association who work at the Los Angeles international airport.

The CTC representatives attracted interest from media in the Los Angeles area, appearing on two radio shows and interviewed by an online journal. On one talk show Montero said that certain bills now before the U.S. Congress that purportedly aim to ease the embargo do nothing of the kind. "The U.S. government cannot extend credit [to finance sales to Cuba], U.S. banks are forbidden from loaning us money, ships delivering goods in Cuba cannot dock in the United States for six months...how does this ease things?" he said, adding, "Even if U.S. business could sell to us, Cuba cannot sell its products in the United States. We can buy but cannot sell: what kind of change is this?"  
 

She outlined some of the gains made by working people as a result of the revolution, pointing out, as one example, that even during extremely tough economic times throughout much of the 1990s, Cuba's infant mortality rate remained similar to that of industrialized nations and better than U.S. cities such as Washington. Gómez also noted that Cuban workers have not lost their access to free education and health care, or lost their jobs, even during the worst of the crisis.

In response to a question about Cuban farmers, Leonel González said that Cuba's small farmers association has decided to increase the proportion of farm produce sold at special markets that have lower, fixed prices--instead of agricultural markets with unregulated prices. This move, making food more affordable for city workers, will strengthen the alliance between farmers and workers.

Mark Friedman is a member of International Association of Machinists Local 2785 and works at Los Angeles International Airport.