The Building and Wood Workers’ International (BWI) hailed the resilience and creativity of Cuban workers amid a decades-long US economic blockade, following a solidarity mission to Cuba earlier this year. The visit marked the formal welcoming of Cuba’s National Union of Construction Workers (SNTC) as an associate member of BWI, celebrating what delegates called a “collective defence of dignity” and “creative resistance” in the face of adversity.

BWI representatives witnessed firsthand how Cuban workers, despite fuel shortages and outdated equipment, continue to drive innovation. From solar energy initiatives to ceramic flooring that generates electricity, they blamed the path of creativity and resilience. The delegation also highlighted how Cuba’s socialist system fosters worker participation and union presence at all levels of governance. BWI General Secretary Ambet Yuson stressed that the Cuban people’s determination and social achievements serve as a global example of working class strength and unity.

The mission concluded with concrete actions to bolster solidarity, including launching global campaigns to expose the effects of the US blockade, establishing a union solidarity fund, and strengthening ties with international bodies. BWI also paid tribute to late Cuban trade unionist Carlos Antonio de Dios Oquendo, whose legacy of leadership and revolutionary conviction was recognised as a cornerstone of regional and global labour solidarity.

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