US embassy cable - 04ROME3055

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 
 
SEMBLER 
 
 
NOTE: NOT PASSED TO ABOVE ADDRESSEE(S) 
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 2004ROME03055 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL