WASHINGTON - A petition urging Cuban President Fidel Castro to release eight workers imprisoned for attempting to form free trade unions was delivered to the U.S. Cuban Interest Section today. The petition, signed by leaders of 23 U.S. unions, calls on Castro to restore fundamental workers' rights guaranteed by international conventions long ignored by the Cuban regime.

"Cuba is obligated as a member of the International Labor Organization and as a state which has ratified Conventions No. 87 and 98 to guarantee freedom of association - the right of workers to form organizations of their own choosing and to bargain collectively. But these rights have long been repressed in Cuba," the petition states. The ILO is the oldest UN organization.

The workers were among scores of journalists, human rights activists and pro-democracy reformers who were rounded up and imprisoned in Cuba in 2003 for terms up to 26 years. While some of the others have been released, the trade unionists remained locked in walled-in cells "filled with vermin and rats," according to a report by the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions. Some are gravely ill because of the harsh prison conditions and lack of medical attention.

Those jailed include Pedro Pablo Alvarez Ramos, Alfredo Felipe Fuentes, Miguel Galván, Ivan Hernandez Carrillo, Nelson Molinet Espino and Hector Raúl Valle Fernández. Another, Carmelo Díaz Fernández, has been granted leave status because of failing health. Lázaro González Adán, has been in prison since October 2004 without charges or trial.

"The only 'crime' they committed was talking with other workers about organizing to bargain with their employers," said Thomas R. Donahue, the former president of the AFL-CIO who is spearheading the campaign. "What Castro is doing to these men not only is inhumane, but it also is a violation of international law."

The ILO's Committee on Freedom of Association in June 2005 issued a report finding that Cuba was in violation for imposing a trade union monopoly controlled by the state, and urged the immediate release of the imprisoned workers:

"The Committee can only express the firm hope that the Government will take steps to ensure a climate free of violence, pressures or threats of any kind so that trade union activities can be carried out freely, even by organizations which do not share the same economic and social objectives," the report concluded.

Cuba Petition - 2

Union leaders signing the petition submitted today to the Cuban government represent millions of American workers in both the AFL-CIO and Change To Win labor federations. They include: Leo W. Gerard, president of the United Steelworkers; Edward J. McElroy, president of the American Federation of Teachers; James P. Hoffa, president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters; Edwin D. Hill, president of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers; R. Thomas Buffenbarger, president of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers; William Lucy, secretary-treasurer of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees and chairman of the AFL-CIO International Affairs Committee; Stuart Appelbaum, president of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union/United Food and Commercial Workers; William Burrus, president of the American Postal Workers Union; and Capt. Duane E. Woerth, president of the Air Line Pilots Association. (Full list of signers appears below. Petition available upon request.)

In response to the Campaign for Free and Independent Trade Unions in Cuba, AFL-CIO President John Sweeney added his voice in April, sending a letter to Castro urging the release of the imprisoned trade unionists. The AFL-CIO's International Affairs Committee also has endorsed the campaign to insist on freedom of association and freedom of expression in Cuba.

Full list of signers:

Paul E. Almeida, President, Department for Professional Employees, AFL-CIO

Stuart Appelbaum, President, Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, UFCW Baxter M. Atkinson, President, American Federation of School Administrators

Dana A. Brigham, General President, International Union of Elevator Constructors

R. Thomas Buffenbarger, International President, International Association of Machinists & Aerospace

Workers

William Burrus, President, American Postal Workers Union

Thomas R. Donahue, Former President, AFL-CIO

John J. Flynn, President, International Union of Bricklayers & Allied Craftworkers

Warren S. George, President, Amalgamated Transit Union

Leo W. Gerard, International President, United Steelworkers

Edwin D. Hill, President, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers

James P. Hoffa, General President, International Brotherhood of Teamsters

Joseph J. Hunt, President, Iron Workers International

Frank Hurt, President, Bakery, Confectionary, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union Thomas F. Lee, President, American Federation of Musicians  James C. Little, International President, Transport Workers Union William Lucy, International Secretary-Treasurer, American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees; Chairman, AFL-CIO International Affairs Committee Edward J. McElroy, President, American Federation of Teachers Patrick Quinn, President, Actors' Equity Association

Kinsey M. Robinson, International President, United Union of Roofers, Waterproofers, & Allied Workers Michael Sacco, President, Seafarers International Union Michael J. Sullivan, General President, Sheet Metal Workers International Association

Capt. Duane E. Woerth, President, Air Line Pilots Association, International

Campaign for Free and Independent Trade Unions in Cuba

1925 K Street, NW, Suite 401, Washington, DC 20006

Tel: 202-347-2359

Fax: 202-347-2531

Campaign for

Free and Independent Trade Unions in Cuba

1925 K Street, NW, Suite 401, Washington, DC 20006, Tel:

202-347-2359; Fax: 202-347-2531

============================================================================

PARA PUBLICACION INMEDIATA

CONTACTO: Dick Wilson

Junio 5, 2006

(202) 347-2359

han sido denegados por largo tiempo por el régimen cubano.

"Cuba está obligada, como miembro de la Organización Internacional del Trabajo y como país que ha ratificado los Convenios No.

Lo trabajadores forman parte de un número de periodistas, activistas de derechos humanos, y reformistas pro-democracia que fueron arrestados y enviados a prisión en Cuba en 2003 por condenas de hasta 26 años. Mientras que varios de ellos han sido liberados, los sindicalistas han sido retenidos en prisión en celdas "llenas de plagas y ratas," de acuerdo con el reporte de la Confederación Internacional de Sindicatos Independientes, y algunos de ellos se encuentran gravemente enfermos como resultado de las terribles condiciones de la prisión y de la falta de atención médica.

Los prisioneros incluyen a Pedro Pablo Álvarez Ramos, Alfredo Felipe Fuentes, Miguel Galván, Ivan Hernández Carrillo, Nelson Molinet Espino y Héctor Raúl Valle Fernández. Uno de ellos, Carmelo Diaz Fernández, ha sido liberado debido a su grave estado de salud. Lázaro González Adan, ha estado en prisión desde octubre de 2004 sin haber sido formalmente acusado

ni haber sido sometido a juicio.

"El único ‘crimen’ que cometieron estas personas fue hablar con los demás trabajadores sobre la forma de organizarse para poder negociar con sus empleadores," dijo Thomas R. Donahue, el ex Presidente de AFL-CIO quien está encabezando esta campaña. "Lo que Castro está haciendo a estos hombres no sólo es inhumano, sino que representa una violación del derecho internacional."

En junio de 2005 el Comité de la OTI sobre Libertad de Asociación emitió un informe en el que determina que Cuba se encuentra en violación a sus normas por imponer un monopolio de sindicatos controlados por el estado, y urgiendo la liberación inmediata de los trabajadores:

"El Comité sólo puede expresar su deseo firme de que el Gobierno tomará los pasos necesarios para garantizar un clima libre de violencia, presiones o amenazas de ningún tipo para que las actividades sindicales puedan ser ejercidas libremente, aún por organizaciones que no comparten los mismos objetivos económicos y sociales," termina diciendo el informe.

(Sigue)

Los lideres sindicales que firman la petición que se presentara en el día de hoy al gobierno cubano representan a millones de trabajadores americanos que trabajan tanto en el AFL-CIO y en las federaciones laborales Change To Win. Incluyen Leo W. Gerard, Presidente del United Steelworkers; Edward J.

McElroy, Presidente del American Federation of Teachers; James P. Hoffa, Presidente del International Brotherhood of Teamsters; Edwin D. Hill, Presidente del International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers; R. Thomas Buffenbarger, Presidente del International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers; William Lucy, secretario-tesorero del American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees y Presidente del AFL-CIO International Affairs Committee; Stuart Appelbaum, Presidente del Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union/United Food and Commercial Workers; William Burrus, Presidente del American Postal Workers Union; y Capt. Duane E. Woerth, Presidente del Air Line Pilots Association. (La lista completa de los signatarios se encuentra más adelante. La petición se enviará a solicitud.)

En respuesta a la Campaign for Free and Independent Trade Unions in Cuba, el Presidente de AFL-CIO John Sweeney unió su voz en el mes de abril, enviando un carta a Castro urgiendo la liberación de los líderes sindicales encarcelados. El Comité Internacional del AFL-CIO’s ha también apoyado la campaña para insistir en la libertad de asociación y expresión en Cuba.

Lista completa de signatarios:

Paul E. Almeida, Presidente, Department for Professional Employees, AFL-CIO

Stuart Appelbaum, Presidente, Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, UFCW Baxter M. Atkinson, Presidente, American Federation of School Administrators

Dana A. Brigham, Presidente General, International Union of Elevator Constructors

R. Thomas Buffenbarger, Presidente Internacional, International Association of Machinists & Aerospace

Workers

William Burrus, Presidente, American Postal Workers Union

Thomas R. Donahue, Ex Presidente, AFL-CIO

John J. Flynn, Presidente, International Union of Bricklayers & Allied Craftworkers

Warren S. George, Presidente, Amalgamated Transit Union

Leo W. Gerard, Presidente Internacional, United Steelworkers

Edwin D. Hill, Presidente, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers

James P. Hoffa, Presidente General, International Brotherhood of Teamsters

Joseph J. Hunt, Presidente, Ironworkers International

Frank Hurt, Presidente, Bakery, Confectionary, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union

Thomas F. Lee, Presidente, American Federation of Musicians

William Lucy, Secretario-Tesorero, American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees; Presidente de la Comision Internacional del AFL-CIO

James Little Presidente Internacional, Transport Workers Union Edward J.

McElroy, Presidente, American Federation of Teachers

Patrick Quinn, Presidente, Actors' Equity Association

Kinsey Robinson, International Presidente, United Union of Roofers, Waterproofers, & Allied Workers Michael Sacco, Presidente, Seafarers International Union Michael J. Sullivan, Presidente General, Sheet Metal Workers International Association

Capt. Duane E. Woerth, Presidente, Air Line Pilots Association, International

Colaboración de Joel Brito