The Canadian Office and Professional Employees Union stands in solidarity with the people of Cuba. These citizens are having their basic human rights, dignities, and livelihoods violated and attacked because of the actions of the Trump administration.
Millions of Cubans find themselves without access to water, electricity and food. Tens of thousands of surgeries are being cancelled for people who desperately need them.
Children, including newborn babies, are being put at risk because the childhood immunization program has been paused, leading to potential future, long-term health implications.
Power blackouts have spread across the country, affecting all sectors of their everyday lives.
We stand firmly in support of the power workers in Cuba who are working hard to address the blackouts and shortages caused by the blockade. Our members who work in the utilities across Canada know how hard it is to manage utilities in the best of times and know how devastating impacts of blackouts can be. The Cuban utility workers are making heroic efforts to preserve and save lives in this time of crisis.
This is a full-blown humanitarian crisis that lays at the feet of the Trump administration, who is violating both the UN Charter and the rights of Cuba to national sovereignty and self-determination.
Our union calling on Government of Canada to act now against the illegal bullying tactics of the Trump administration, and to support the people of Cuba by increasing humanitarian aid and to make diplomatic efforts with other countries to end the US blockade on oil.
We stand for justice. We stand for human rights. We stand with the people and workers of Cuba.