CUBA SOLIDARITY CAMPAIGN- CUBA VIVE APPEAL FOR HUMANITARIAN AID

CUBA SOLIDARITY CAMPAIGN- CUBA VIVE APPEAL FOR HUMANITARIAN AID

The purpose of this LTB is to ask all branches to support the Cuba Vive appeal to send urgent humanitarian aid to Cuba.

Branches will be aware of the wider trade union movement’s solidarity and concrete links with Cuba, a country that has been under an illegal blockade for over 60 years. However, the Cuban people are now facing their most serious crisis in recent history. The Trump regime has imposed a fuel embargo, on top of the blockade, on the country by threatening those who supply Cuba with fuel with excessive tariffs and is now threatening to “take over” the country, violating their sovereignty and breaking international law.

These restrictions have heavily impacted Cuba’s economy, affected the supply of energy and compounded the medical supply crisis that the country has been experiencing for years. The sanctions have already led to power cuts, food shortages and a sharp rise in infant mortality. This crisis will lead to more avoidable deaths, as the Cuban civilian population is collectively punished by the US.

As a result of this terrible crisis of sovereignty and humanity, the Cuba Solidarity Campaign (CSC) is mobilising support for the Cuban people and against the illegal actions of the US.

Together with other unions, the CWU is supporting the Cuba Vive Appeal, which aims to provide urgent humanitarian support in the face of Trump’s latest assault.

The appeal was launched in 2024 to send medical aid to the island in the face of severe shortages. Thanks to the generosity of supporters, more than £280,000 has been raised with the support of the British trade union movement and six consignments of aid have already been delivered to Cuba. These shipments, worth over £1.3 million when donated supplies are included, have sent urgently needed medicines, surgical equipment, hospital beds, mobility aids, diagnostic equipment, PPE and hurricane relief supplies directly to Cuban hospitals and clinics.

Now, as shortages deepen and fuel restrictions threaten food distribution as well as healthcare provision, the appeal has expanded to include emergency food aid alongside medical supplies. Containers of rice, lentils and essential nutrition are now being shipped to support the most vulnerable- particularly children, pregnant women and older people.

There is a website to accompany the appeal (www.cubavive.org.uk), which has model motions, fundraising ideas, links to further information and online donation facilities.

The appeal is supported by the Cuban health workers union. Their General Secretary Dr Santiago Badía González has sent a message of thanks for our support: “The Cuban people are very grateful for every action of support. You show that the unjust and illegal policies of the US government cannot and will not be able to block solidarity.”

The CWU is asking all branches to consider donating to the Cuba Vive appeal and affiliating to the Cuba Solidarity Campaign. 

To make a donation or find out more about the Cuba Vive appeal, visit www.cubavive.org.uk/donate/. This page also contains information about how to make donations via BACS or material aid donations.

You can affiliate your branch, if you are not already affiliated, here. It only costs £40 for branches to affiliate and we encourage all branches to do so.

If you have any other questions or need further information, please contact the General Secretary’s Department at dlynch@cwu.org.

Yours sincerely

Dave Ward                                                   

General Secretary   

LTB 099/26 – CUBA SOLIDARITY CAMPAIGN- CUBA VIVE APPEAL FOR HUMANITARIAN AID

View Online