"Now We Know They Will Listen Us"

"For now we are 25, but there are many people who want to join us to feel represented", proudly said Mayra Dominguez Conde, secretary of a trade union branch in commerce, food and services, comprising self-employed, in the town of Florida, Camaguey.

The performance of this force has always been regarded with suspicion by some, and sometimes is overlooked similarity to any other profession that is linked with the State.

Dominguez who is also secretary of the first section of this type of association in the province of Camagüey says that "before being set adrift, we had no space to work, we must be local to private renting to perform the activity, we had no place to be all located and focused. "

This organizational opportunity implemented in the country has allowed a more effective response to the problems of the self-employed workers, said Omar Ramadan Reyes, secretary of the National Union of Commerce, Catering and Services. "This has been a way to have a basic structure in terms of groups, where most results are obtained in the management to ensure their problems, revert them and be part of  the union work as a sign of what we are: Cubans ".

 Self-employed workers from Florida municipality, with their actions, have contributed in organizing and regrouping of several workers in this country. For trading the asked for a premise at first, which did not present ideal conditions, but with the efforts of all conditioned space and built wooden kiosks. Today there is another image. We have a telephone, and we are in one of the main  in the main areas of the zone.

"Now we can talk and we know they will hear us, Dominguez said. If we had a problem before, we all went to the Party who serve us. Not any more, the task is fulfilled by the secretary now that after the meetings with all members, the opinions are sent to the Board of Management and out opinions are taken into consideration."

There is an affordable price for the lease of space, strategic areas for the sale of their products, the right to social security as a backup for the future, the performance of duties as another worker and a voice to answer for each of the members, are some of the advantages provided by the formation of these union sections.

Difficulties still remain, but as the workforce increases, this may contribute to the economy and demonstrate the value of employment reserve.