- Conference
- 2009 National Delegate Conference
- Date
- 23 February 2009
- Decision
- Carried as Amended
In this the 50th anniversary year of the Cuban revolution UNISON salutes the people of Cuba and their achievements.
UNISON commends the impressive advances that have been made in the fields of health care, education, sustainable development and many others. These advances put Cuba amongst the top rank of nations in terms of human development and ensure that the Cuban people have a quality of life which can only envied by others in the region.
The National Executive Council is proud of the strong and enduring relationship between our union and our sister unions in Cuba, between our members and the people of Cuba. We are proud of the work we are doing with the Cuba Solidarity Campaign in this country. We are proud that we have been willing and able to offer technical and moral support when the island and its citizens have been under threat. We recognise the importance of the twinning arrangements that have been established between many of our regional organisations and those in the Cuban regions. And we are pleased that we have been able to stand up politically for the cause of the Cuban people in our dealings with the British government, sister unions across the world and other international institutions.
As we celebrate this 50th anniversary we recognise however that, despite the efforts of the Cuban people, much still needs to be done and that their cause is still under threat.
In doing so Conference calls for the following:
1)The new administration in the United States to take up the call of Cuba to open an unconditional dialogue between the two nations;
2)An immediate end to the illegal blockade of Cuba;
3)The release of the Miami Five;
4)The British government to normalise relations with Cuba and send a high level ministerial delegation to Cuba without preconditions, and to build trading and cultural links between the two countries.
5)Encourage all branches and regions to affiliate to the Cuba Solidarity Campaign;
6)Call on all UNISON regions to invite a delegation from Cuba to visit their branches and workplaces.
Conference further urges the National Executive Council to continue its work with the Cuba Solidarity Campaign and to build its support for the Cuban people through the strengthening of relations with our sister unions at all levels and through even stronger advocacy on behalf of the Cuban people.