There are many reasons for turning the day of the world proletariat into the greatest demonstration of support for our Revolution, Raúl and the Party; into a new space of homage to its historic leader Fidel Castro Ruz, in which we will ratify the determination to comply with the concept of Revolution that he bequeathed to us.
Cuban Workers Federation calls for May Day´s celebrations
In addition, there are important commemorations, an expression of the heroic traditions of struggle that make us feel proud to be Cubans and exalt the history of our country, such as the 165th anniversary of the birth of our National Hero José Martí, the 150th anniversary of the beginning of the wars for Independence, the 65th anniversary of the assault on the Moncada and Carlos Manuel de Céspedes barracks and the 60th anniversary of the Triumph of the Revolution.
This First of May, from all our union structures, we will call on the workers to turn the complexities of the economic scenario facing the country today into “Productive Victories”, materializing in practical achievements the efficiency, productivity, savings and quality from each factory of our industrial plant, the teaching, research and service activities, very conscious of the responsibility of the working class in the generation of the wealth demanded by our people to satisfy their needs.
In the compact and colorful parades, rallies and acts in the plazas throughout the country, the demand for an end to the criminal and genocidal economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed on Cuba 56 years ago, which is now intensifying, will multiply; we will demand the return of the territory illegally occupied by the naval base in Guantánamo and will denounce the arrogant and interfering attitude of the current U.S. government.
Compatriots:
The celebration of this day will be characterized by patriotism, joy and individual and collective recognition of the experiences of the vanguard, as well as by the contribution of the workers to the process of updating the Cuban social economic model, which we have decided to continue building by sovereign decision.
We will highlight the example and teachings of workers’ leaders such as Lázaro Peña González, Jesús Menéndez Larrondo, José María Pérez and Alfredo López, among others who identify the different unions and represent the highest values of our workers.
We will ratify the support of the Cuban working class for the brotherly peoples of Latin America and the Caribbean, impacted by the right-wing offensive, supported by enormous media campaigns aimed at destabilizing progressive governments, in particular that of the endangered Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, which is committed to defending its sovereignty and self-determination.
We will continue to articulate from the different social actors the battle for political, economic, social and cultural integration of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (Celac).
Once again, we express our solidarity with the trade union organizations that are fighting throughout the world for the vindication of genuine workers’ rights, confronted with the hegemonic power of employers and the ever-present exploitation of the capitalist regime and its neoliberal policies.
Cuban workers:
This May Day, we will give another powerful demonstration of the indestructible unity of our heroic people, together with their Party and Revolution, we will patent the commitment made by the workers to the revolutionary work and we will demonstrate to the world, once again, our capacity for struggle and firm conviction that we will always achieve victory.
Long live International Workers’ Day!
Long live Fidel and Raul!
To victory always.