By Julie Wolenski and Mark Friedman

CHICAGO — An audience of over 100 workers, union activists, and organizers from more than a dozen unions attended a reception here for representatives of the Cuban Embassy in Washington. The event — sponsored by Building Relations with Cuban Labor (BRWCL) with the support of the Chicago Cuba Coalition — was part of the annual Labor Notes conference held here June 12-14, 2026. It brought together 4,700 union activists and organizers from across the country, and several delegations from other nations.

Guillermo “Memo” Durgin from BRCL welcomed those in attendance and encouraged individuals: 1) to sign up for future campaigns to broaden active opposition to the U.S. blockade of Cuba; 2) to initiate a labor resolution demanding an end of the U.S. oil and trade blockade; and 3) to join a labor delegation and learn about Cuba’s social achievements and the impact of U.S. policies on the lives of Cubans.

Tanieris Diéguez, deputy head of the Cuban mission to the United Nations, kicked off a panel discussion. She spoke about the impact of the U.S. blockade on the lives of the Cuban people and explained that 96,000 people have been placed on a waiting list for surgery due to the power blackouts. The survival rate for children with cancer diagnoses has decreased from 80 to 60 percent.

“In the context of unprecedented shortages of basic goods and blackouts,” Diéguez explained, “the government has prioritized maternal and pediatric care.”

Diéguez emphasized that Cuba is a “country of peace” and is open to talk about cooperation with the United States, but only on the basis of respect for Cuba’s national sovereignty. However, she added, we will “fight to defend our honor” against all acts of U.S. aggression.

California Teamster and Amazon worker Amber Longo, who recently returned from Cuba as part of the Labor and Youth Activists Delegation, joined the panel.

“Cuba’s creativity and organizing experience is something the U.S. labor movement desperately needs,” she commented. “There should be Cuban workers at Labor Notes exchanging their hard-won experiences with us, but the blockade of Cuba, placed on Washington’s State Sponsor of Terrorism List (SSOT) prevents that.

“As an Amazon worker, I saw the Cubans negotiating with the aggressive U.S. government the same way my coworkers and I negotiate with Amazon when we march on our boss about an issue in our workplace,” Longo recounted. “The U.S. claims the people of Cuba want the U.S. to come liberate them, but on May Day 500,000 workers marched by the US embassy in Havana, and over 5 million nationally, to present a petition that 6.2 million had signed committing to defend their homeland against US sanctions and threats of military intervention!”

“As a former scientist,” Longo said, “going to Cuba helped me realize that I would not have left the field of science if I had been able to practice science in Cuba. Science there is truly used for the good of the people.”

A lively exchange followed between attendees and the panelists. Union activists discussed the need to educate others about the U.S. blockade and why Cuba’s international solidarity is an example for workers in the United States. There was interest in organizing labor solidarity with Cuba and about 60 people signed a mailing list to “stay in touch.” Plans for a follow up zoom meeting are in the works.

Several hundred Amazon workers, Teamsters union militants from Atlanta, New York City, and California, participated in the Labor Notes conference. A group from Atlanta and Los Angeles are organizing a Labor for Cuba committee to focus on expanding opposition to Washington’s economic war on Cuba among unionists and activists involved in organizing drives.

Mike Vera, a Los Angeles Inland Boatmen’s Union (IBU) activist who has been to Cuba a couple of times, was among the crowd. The IBU is the marine division of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU).

Vera, active in the Los Angeles Hands-off Cuba Committee, has been a familiar face on national Zoom conferences to boost solidarity with Cuba and has secured donations of $20,000 from the ILWU for the Saving Lives Campaign for medical aid. Following the panel discussion, Vera said, “The IBU, in addition to passing important resolutions which have elevated to the ILWU International Convention, have been proactive with financial and material support with funding for syringes and pacemakers as well as assisting Global Health Partners, not just tourists and the Pan American Medical Association in sending much needed medical supplies…”

Among others at the reception were members of the Chicago Teachers Union, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Amalgamated Transit Union, SMART-Transportation Division, Unite Here, News Guild, American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees, United Food and Commercial Workers, Rideshare Drivers Union Tennessee, Ann Arbor Education Association, Communication Workers of America, and Railroad Workers United.

In addition, there were international guests from the British Columbia Government Employees Union in Canada, LSE Amazon in Mexico, and National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers from the United Kingdom.

The Labor Notes conference included dozens of workshops on in-plant organizing; anti-ICE fights; defending women and LGBTQ, alongside other workers, on the job; building labor solidarity; strike actions; labor independence from the Democratic Party; and labor solidarity with Palestine.

Talking with the Cubans about the reception, Vera commented: “This event was very successful, a packed room with a great panel explaining the reality in Cuba today and the horrible impact from the existing 60-plus year blockade and the recent fuel embargo… Many in the room were inspired to learn more and how to fight for the Cuban people against these injustices.”

Julie Wolenski is a retired railroad worker and member of the Chicago Cuba Coalition; Mark Friedman is a member of the International Association of Machinists and of the Los Angeles Hands Off Cuba Committee.

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