Workers to meet in Mexico

Feeling battered by pay cuts, layoffs, foreclosures, medical, utility and fuel costs? You’re not alone. But you have a chance to learn how workers are struggling for a better life right now—and making gains—in other countries.

On Dec. 7, 8 and 9 the fourth Cuba/Venezuela/North America Labor Conference will bring together workers on the front line of social change from Cuba, Venezuela, Bolivia, Nicaragua, Haiti, Mexico, Colombia and the United States. Immigrant rights organizers and Katrina survivors are invited.

A special evening of solidarity with the Cuban Five on Friday, Dec. 7, begins the conference. The Cuban Five have begun their tenth year of unjust imprisonment in the U.S. Irma Sehwerert will represent the families of the Cuban Five. Her son, René González, is serving a 15-year sentence in the federal prison in Marianna, Fla., where he is denied visits from his spouse, Olga Salanueva. The International Committee for the Freedom of the Cuban Five is collaborating on this event.

Saturday topics will include U.S./Cuba relations and ALBA, the alternative to NAFTA and other “free trade” agreements. U.S./Latin America immigration issues will be discussed on Sunday.

The conference will be held in Tijuana, Mexico, just across the border from San Diego, Calif., because the U.S. State Department refuses to approve visas for representatives from the Confederation of Cuban Workers (CTC).

The U.S./Cuba Labor Exchange initiated the conference. It is supported by Sindicato Mexicano de Electricistas (SME); World Organization for the Right of the People to Healthcare, SEIU 1199 NY; National Network on Cuba (NNOC); Venezuela Solidarity Network (VSN); International Action Center (IAC); Cuba Solidarity New York (CSNY); Southwest Workers Union, San Antonio, Texas; Converjencia de los Movimientos de los Pueblos de las Américas (COMPA); Peace and Freedom Party; Movimiento Latino USA; Cuba-U.S. Sustainability Project; March 25 Coalition; and the International Committee for the Freedom of the Cuban Five.

Registration and hotel information can be found at laborexchange.blogspot.com; or send e-mail to [email protected].