C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 003055

SIPDIS


DEPARTMENT PASS TO LABOR COLLECTIVE
DEPARTMENT FOR WHA/CCA AND EUR/WE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/13/2014
TAGS: PHUM CU IT ILO HUMAN RIGHTS
SUBJECT: ITALIAN LABOR UNIONS HAVE CONDEMNED HUMAN AND
LABOR RIGHTS VIOLATIONS IN CUBA

REF: STATE 153312

Classified By: POL MINCOUNS THOMAS COUNTRYMAN, REASONS 1.5 (B) AND (D).


1. (U) Italy has three primary labor union confederations,
the General Confederation of Italian Labor (CGIL), the
Italian Confederation of Workers' Unions (CISL), and the
Italian Union of Labor (UIL). All three are more or less
left-leaning, with CISL (with roots in Catholic social
doctrine) the most moderate and UIL the most pragmatic.


2. (C) All three federations are strong advocates of
international labor rights. In fact, both CISL and CGIL
wrote to Fidel Castro to protest the lack of respect for
human rights and repression of those seeking greater
democracy through peaceful means. (We were surprised not to
find a similar condemnation from UIL. They may have taken
similar action, but not posted the information to the
federation's website.) From that standpoint, we think
Italian labor federations might be willing take a more
consistent public stand, although the Cuban situation has not
thus far been a priority here.


3. (C) The confederations would not necessarily be eager to
have their activities identified closely with the United
States and would not want to be seen as "U.S. pawns" in such
a venture -- to put it frankly, particularly under the
current Administration. That said, Embassy maintains good
contacts with all three groups, and all three regularly
repeat assurances that they are not anti-American and want to
maintain ties. It could be worth discussing with them the
need for highlighting the situation in Cuba more forcefully
and more regularly, reviewing facts such as those included in
Ref, and encouraging them to speak out frequently on the
situation and demand reform. Embassy could convey such a
message if so instructed. Other effective interlocutors for
Italian unions would be American labor leaders or
academicians and others not associated too closely with the
Administration or conservative entities.

Visit Rome's Classified Website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/rome/index.cf m

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2004ROME03055 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL