By Mark Friedman
Associate member IAM Local Lodge 1484
Co-chair retirees committee
“IAM Local 1484, based in Wilmington, California, passed a resolution in which it strongly urges President (Joe) Biden to remove Cuba from the United States’ list of sponsors of terrorism,” wrote Trabajadores, the newspaper of the Cuban trade union federation (CTC). Counting more than 90% of Cuban workers, the CTC represents millions of workers organized into 15 different major unions.
“They also demand that California’s Congressional delegation approve legislation that eliminates those aspects of the embargo that have been codified in law; suspend all sanctions against Cuba by the U.S.; and allow the peoples of the U.S. and Cuba to travel and trade freely with each other.” The United Nations General Assembly has condemned U.S. policy 30 times. The most recent vote took place on November 3, 2022, and only the U.S. and Israel opposed the resolution presented by Cuba, citing the need to end the U.S. economic, commercial, and financial blockade against Cuba. The Cuban labor newspaper added, “IAM Local 1484 has just joined the LA Hands Off Cuba Committee, which also has, among its purposes, to remove the largest of the Antilles from the spurious list, as well as to end the blockade and all economic, commercial and travel sanctions on that nation.”
The Los Angeles Committee organizes educational and legal trips to Cuba so that U.S. residents can see the island for themselves. They also promote the projection of audiovisuals on Cuban reality and promote demonstrations, caravans, and meetings with Cubans and Americans who have recently been to Cuba.
Committee meetings are all open and democratic. The committee asserts that all of their activities are legal, including trips to Cuba, since they seek to involve the maximum number of groups, unions, and individuals to help end the blockade.
Since June 6, 2023, IAM Local 1484 has been one of the “proud” institutions that sponsors the work of the LA Hands Off Cuba Committee (consisting of 50 unions, groups, and prominent individuals) and participates in Global Health Partners, a charitable organization that has a license to ship medical supplies to Cuba. At Local 1484’s urging, the Los Angeles Labor Federation, representing more than 800,000 members in 300+ unions and labor organizations, recently joined the LA Hands Off Cuba Committee. For more info: UShandsoffcubacommittee.com