Speech #1010228820

First Secretary of the Interest Section. refused to meet with the AFLCIO delegation and declined to send a staff member to receive the packet of letters. "Keeping these men in prison in an outrage." stated John DeConcini. the AFLCIO vice president who chairs the Cuba committee. "It appears the Cuban government wants to outdo even South Africa when it comes to keeping political prisoners in Jail." Mario Chanes de Armas was the leader of a brewery workers union in Puenta Orande. He was jailed in 1961 for opposing Castros destruction of free trade unions. Ernesto Diaz. a transport worker and fisherman. suffered the same fate in 1964 for "crimes against the state." "We will be gathering information about conditions of workers inside Cuba from a number of sources. including Cuban refugees. academic experts. Journalists and trade unions in other countries." said DeConcini. who is president of the Bakery. Confectionery and Tobacco Workers. "When the documentation is complete. we will ask the International Labor Organization and other appropriate bodies to take action." DeConcini said. "Our purpose is to help workers in Cuba achieve the same rights as other workers around the world." he said. "We know it will be a long and difficult struggle. but we wont quit until Cuban workers achieve dignity and democracy." In addition to DeConcini. the AFLCIO Labor Committee for a Free Cuba includes: Leon Lynch.