CARIBBEAN STUDIES / VOL. 3 NO. 3 CARIBBEAN STUDIES / VOL. 3 NO. 3 ~717 URBAN LABORLABOR ANDAND COMMUNISM:COMMUNISM: CUBACUBA Ralph Lee Woodward jr.'· Ralph Lee Woodward Jr.* The twentieth century has seen a substantial growth in the importance and The twentieth century has seen a substantial growth in the importance and power of urban labor movements in Latin America. Urban workers, effectively power of urban labor movements in Latin America. Urban workers, effectively organized, are readily available as a political force, thus, political groups organized, are readily available as a political force, thus, political groups interested in changhtg the old order have promoted labor organization and interested in changing the old order have promoted labor organization and action in recent years. The Communists, for whom the "proletariat" has special action in recent years. The Communists, for whom the "proletariat" has special ideological significance, have been especially active in promoting organized ideological significance, have been especially active in promoting organized urban labor for political purposes in Latin America. urban labor for political purposes in Latin America. Urban labor constitutes a minority of the working population in most of Urban labor constitutes a minority of the working population in most of Latin America, but its concentration in the capitals (and occasionally in other Latin America, but its concentration in the capitals (and occasionally in other major cities) give it a potential. out of proportion to the actual number of major cities) give it a potential, out of proportion to the actual number of warkers. In Cuba, however, the majority of the population is urban, and, thus, workers. In Cuba, however, the majority of the population is urban, and, thus, the urban labor force in that island republic has been even more important the urban labor force in that island republic has been even more important than in the rest of Latin America. The I953 census classified 57 Ofo of the than in the rest of Latin America. The 1953 census classified 57% of the population as urban.1 In I961 the Cuban government estimated that of a total population as urban.1 In 1961 the Cuban government estimated that of a total population of 6,933,253, nearly 60 Ofo were urban.! Although the Cuban export population of 6,933,253, nearly 60 % were urban.2 Although the Cuban export economy has been dominated by sugar production, more persons have been economy has been dominated by sugar production, more persons have been employed in the urban processing, packing, and shipping of the crop, than in employed in the urban processing, packing, and shipping of the crop, than in the agricultural raising of the cane.3 Traditionally, since independence, the the agricultural raising of the cane.3 Traditionally, since independence, the Cuban labor unions have occupied a place of more importance than elsewhere Cuban labor unions have occupied a place of more importance than elsewhere in most of Latin America. Likewise, the Communist Party has had a longer and in most of Latin America. Likewise, the Communist Party has had a longer and more successful history in Cuba than eleswhere, the bulk of its strength resting more successful history in Cuba than eleswhere, the bulk of its strength resting in the urban labor organization. The present Communist regime in Cuba, in the urban labor organization. The present Communist regime in Cuba, although outwardly emphasizing agrarian reform and the "peasant" revolt, has, although outwardly emphasizing agrarian reform and the "peasant" revolt, has, in fact, once more become highly dependent on urban labor for its success and. in fact, once more become highly dependent on urban labor for its success and maintenance.maintenance. ItIt isis significant,significant, also, also, that that the the two two successful successful establishments establishments of of Communist-influencedCommunist-influenced governments governments in Latin in LatinAmerica America - Guatemala - Guatemala in the in the early I950's and the present Cuban regime - both depended heavily for their early 1950'$ and the present Cuban regime - both depended heavily for their maintenancemaintenance on on urban urban labor. labor. * The author is assistant professor of history at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, N.C.N.C. * The author is assistant professor of history at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, I. More specifically, 34.9 % of the Cuban population lived in cities of over 100,000; 43.4 % 1. More specifically, 34.9 % of the Cuban population lived in cities of over 100,000; 43.4 % lived in towns of from 5,000 to 100,000; and "21.7 % lived in places of less than 5,000. United lived in towns of from 5,000 to 100,000; and 21.7 % lived in places of less than 5,000. United States, Department of Commerce, Investment in Cuba (Washington: Government Printing Office, States, Department of Commerce, Investment in Cuba (Washington: Government Printing Office, 1956),1956), pp.pp. 182-184.182-184. 2. Cuba, Ministerio de Trabajo, Cuba en cifras (Havana: Imprenta Nacional, 1962), p. x. 3·2. InlleslmenlCuba, Ministerio in Cuba, dep. Trabajo,178, states Cuba that enin cifras1952 only (Havana: 41.5 % Imprenta of the Cuban Nacional, labor force1962), was p. 1. employed 3. Investment in agriculture. in Cuba, p. 178, states. that in 1952 only 41.5 % of the Cuban labor force was employed in agriculture. This content downloaded from 129.252.86.83 on Tue, 26 Sep 2017 22:56:31 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms 18 8 I.I. ARTICLESARTICLES I I Urban labor organization in Havana began during the colonial regime, in­ Urban labor organization in Havana began during the colonial regime, in fluenced and organized by Spanish anarcho-syndicalists. Also influential was fluenced and organized by Spanish anarcho-syndicalists. Also influential was the Cuban socialist, Enrique Roig y San Mardn, who died in a Havana prison the Cuban socialist, Enrique Roig y San Martin, who died in a Havana prison in 1889. During the 1890'S port and tobacco workers in Havana organized, and in 1889. During the 1890^ port and tobacco workers in Havana organized, and the first Cuban labor congress was held there in 1892.4 After independence, the the first Cuban labor congress was held there in 1892.4 After independence, the labor movement continued to grow, generally behind the leadership of the labor movement continued to grow, generally behind the leadership of the tobacco and dock workers' unions. As North American capital poured into the tobacco and dock workers' unions. As North American capital poured into the island, the number of urban industries increased rapidly, but was accompanied island, the number of urban industries increased rapidly, but was accompanied by a rise in labor disorder. This early period was highlighted by a bloody strike by a rise in labor disorder. This early period was highlighted by a bloody strike in 1902 and an unsuccessful attempt to form a Cuban Labor Party under the in 1902 and an unsuccessful attempt to form a Cuban Labor Party under the leadership of Diego Vicente Tejera in 1905.5 Strikes, riots, and demonstrations leadership of Diego Vicente Tejera in 1905.5 Strikes, riots, and demonstrations contributed significantly to the sending of U.S. Marines in 1917, as North contributed significantly to the sending of U.S. Marines in 1917, as North American business interests were unsympathetic to labor demands. World War I American business interests were unsympathetic to labor demands. World War I brought economic gains to the laboring class, however, and resulted in a tem~ brought economic gains to the laboring class, however, and resulted in a tem porary relaxation of labor agitation. But the sugar collapse following the war porary relaxation of labor agitation. But the sugar collapse following the war led to widespread unemployment and labor discontent. Before the end of 1919, led to widespread unemployment and labor discontent. Before the end of 1919, there were once again serious strikes. Under pressure from the United States, there were once again serious strikes. Under pressure from the United States, President Mario Garda Menocal and the Cuban Congress suspended constitu­ President Mario Garcia Menocal and the Cuban Congress suspended constitu tional guarantees, permitting the government, as the U.S. Minister put it, to tional guarantees, permitting the government, as the U.S. Minister put it, to "legally proceed" against strikers and labor agitators. Violent suppression of "legally proceed" against strikers and labor agitators. Violent suppression of organized labor activity on behalf of both Cuban and foreign business interests organized labor activity on behalf of both Cuban and foreign business interests continued under presidents Alfredo Zayas and Gerardo Machado.6 continued under presidents Alfredo Zayas and Gerardo Machado.6 Although various groups calling themselves communists and expressing Although various groups calling themselves communists and expressing sympathy with the proletariat and the Russian Revolution had appeared earlier, sympathy with the proletariat and the Russian Revolution had appeared earlier, the Cuban Communist Party was not formed until Julio Antonio Mella founded the Cuban Communist Party was not formed until Julio Antonio Mella founded the Partido Comunista de Cuba in 1925. The Machado government arrested and the Partido Comunista de Cuba in 1925. The Machado government arrested and deported Mella and other Party leaders a few weeks later, forcing the Commu­ deported Mella and other Party leaders a few weeks later, forcing the Commu nists underground.7 In spite of government suppression, the Communists sur­ nists underground.7 In spite of government suppression, the Communists sur vived and made considerable headway among labor unions, playing an active vived and made considerable headway among labor unions, playing an active part in the strikes and labor disorders of the mid- and late-1920'S.