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It is my understanding that Cuban “national Labour Code legislation of 1984, and supplementary laws, comprehensively guarantee both workers’ individual rights and collective rights. Legislation also guarantees workers the right to belong to a trade union as well as conferring the state with the responsibility for finding work for everyone over the age of 17, including people with disabilities, who is able and willing to enter employment. Since the nineties the voice of the trade unions has become an increasingly important component of the economic and political life of the country. The Labour Code is now being reformed to take into account the new economic circumstances that have raised the unions’ profile and the unions are at the heart of the consultation process in the redrafting of this fundamental legislation. Of the approximately 4 million people who are economically active in Cuba, 98% belong to a trade union. In addition there are 250,000 pensioners who are union members. The position of women, who make up 43% of trade unionists in Cuba was one of the subjects discussed at the XIX Congress of the CTC (3) which took place in September 2006. Women account for 58.9% and 53.6% of officials at regional and local levels respectively and the importance of ensuring equal opportunities for women, as well as the need to increase the provision of nursery places (Círculos Infantiles) for the young children of working mothers were highlighted as priorities in this area of the discussion at Congress. (1) _http://www.cuba-solidarity.org/faqdocs/Cuba-the-trade-unions.pdf_ (http://www.cuba-solidarity.org/faqdocs/Cuba-the-trade-unions.pdf) You, Mr. dan writes: “In the context of Cuba, trade unions are banned, the working class obeys directives and the down-trodden have no say in the economic policies of Raul. ” Please explain the meaning of “Cuba, trade unions are banned.” I am not a “Cuba watcher.” Have I missed the dramatic event of trade unions being banned? Was it not the “Trade Union Federation” that announced the “redeployment” of 500,000 state workers? Immature Marxism Everyone gets a chance to learn more on this list. I have learnt many things from the list. What dan wrote: “it is my understanding that the material relations of production determine men's consciousness that draws me to Marx's materialism. And thus the analysis of the relations of production within Cuba which bring me to the conclusion that you're the idealist, . . .” On a scale of 1 – 5 with “1” being excellent, you score 6. Off the scale. Here is what was quoted: “It is not the consciousness of men that determines their existence, but their social existence that determines their consciousness.” Marx address “existence” of our specie and plainly states existence determines consciousness. Material relations of production is a much narrower field than existence. Consciousness arises before “material relations of production,” and corresponding division of labor and consciousness and ritual behavior rooted in the “production relations.” Therefore material relations of production, or what is the same, “production relations” of a given era/epoch impacts, shapes and determines specific forms of consciousness of that era. Consciousness is a “big word.” III. Where I grew up, no Marxist or communist is somehow required to support any policy or specific actions of any state . . .period. You claim the Cuban government is nationalist. Fine. What about the state and the form of property ownership of “socially necessary means of life” in Cuba? Do capitalist own the energy infrastructure, as inadequate as it is? What industries are owned by capitalist? Mr. Dan you screamed so much about sugar in Cuba, one would not know nickel is her chief export and its price is off 50% from last year. The point is that you write against the general sentiment of the list and need to show where trade unions have been banned in Cuba. WL. ________________________________________________ Send list submissions to: Marxism@lists.econ.utah.edu Set your options at: http://lists.econ.utah.edu/mailman/options/marxism/archive%40mail-archive.com
