Cubans are suffering. For more than 60 years, an illegal U.S. embargo has caused daily hardship and scarcity in Cuba, blocking medicine, fuel and other essentials for daily life. During his first term, U.S. President Donald Trump listed Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism. This deepened restrictions, leading to an extra 240 sanctions in 2021.
Venezuela’s state-run oil company provided Cuba with life-saving fuel until January 2026 when the U.S. attacked Venezuela and abducted Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores. Trump has since signed a cruel and inhumane executive order threatening to sanction any other country that provides Cuba with fuel.
Our union condemns the United States for violating Cuba’s sovereignty. We call on the Canadian government to defend international law and continue trade relations with Cuba. The federal government must also ensure our country continues to provide Cuba with supplies and humanitarian relief they need to survive.
Over more than 20 years, CUPE has woven strong bonds of solidarity with Cuban workers. Through CUPE BC’s leadership and in partnership with CoDevelopment Canada, our union has worked closely with the National Union of Public Administration Workers in Havana (SNTAP Havana). In 2025, CUPE representatives joined Cuban trade unions in solidarity and marched with more than 600,000 people in Havana on International Workers’ Day.
International solidarity is needed more than ever. The U.S. administration is intensifying its push for regime change, and people are paying the price as their living conditions worsen. CUPE will continue to support the people of Cuba however we can, and we call on others to do the same.
Take action: sign the parliamentary petition calling for Canada to stand with Cuba and other Latin American countries that the U.S. administration is targeting.