Evaluation of Cooperation Between LO Norway and the CTC Cuba

Background:
LO  has had cooperation with the CTC since 1998. The cooperation has been aimed at strengthening the capacities of the union movement in Cuba. In 2006 this relationship developed into a project aimed at the training of local union leaders in collective bargaining. The design of the project seeks to ensure the replication and spread of knowledge of strategic methodologies and negotiation techniques at the provincial level, and between local sections and union bureaus

Purpose/objective:
• Evaluate the results of the support provided to the CTC and its leaders

• Evaluate the form of the cooperation with the CTC and offer suggestions for improving the project, taking into account the monitoring and reports on the work of the CTC.

Methodology:
The following methodological approach was established:
• Capture and systematize key information about the content of the project, as well as in previous reports and evaluations
• Use secondary sources and documents relevant to understanding the reality of the country and the union movement
• Plan and carry out meetings and visits with the centers for training including
o Meetings with LO Oslo, and with the Adviser for Latin America in LO
o Initial meeting with the Office for International Cooperation
o Meetings with the Bureau and Instructors of the Cuban aviation union and Nico López refinery Union
o With the Rectory of CTCs National Union School Lazaro Peña, the Office for International Cooperation and the Department of International Relations
o With members of the Provincial Committee of the CTC in Havana and a feedback meeting with the Office for International Cooperation.

Key findings:
The report concludes in general that in the current economic and social context the support provided by LO has been essential to strengthen the capacities of the CTC and has contributed in an effective manner to the substantial improvement of knowledge about collective agreements. The results of the project indicate that it has achieved its objectives, and is effectively contributing to raising the quality of union work. Moreover, it has strengthened the formation and integrated training of union leaders.

Recommendations:
1. Almost all of the people and offices consulted reiterated the need to emphasize basic economic skills (micro-economy) in addition to existing training.
2. Faced by concerns regarding double politics in regard to the form of wage payments, where in some cases workers arepaid in convertible currency and others are not, it is important to make use of the spaces for training generated by the project.
3. With regards to the structural changes and transformation of employment regulations in the country, in which new subjects and economic sectors have arisen, there is a need for seminars concerning alternatives, as well as the function and promotion of union leadership to meet the new realities of employment.
4. Processes of collective bargaining should respond to the interests and and necessities of a variety of sectors.
5. The project should be adjusted to secure unionization in the non-state sector.
6. Unions entering into the negation of collective agreements need to carefully define the limits of responsibilities of administrative units in companies.
7. LO and CTC need to consider options and mechanisms for improving communication.
8. CTC needs to identify effective mechanisms for the retention of trained instructors.
9. Further support should be given to the improvement of equipment, logistics and educational materials used in training and practice of collective bargaining.
10. Future evaluations should be planned to take place during the period in which active training is taking place. Evaluators should visit more provinces.
11. The evaluation team concludes that the project has had very significant impacts and adheres closely to the necessities of the current economic, social snd employment context.
12. As a concluding recommendation we suggest that it is appropriate to continue the support provided by LO. On the basis of analysis of the processes and impacts taking place in the Cuban union system, and of its remaining weaknesses, we think it important to extend the project under terms to those established.

Comments from the organisation, if any:
We have had the opportunity to discuss the evaluation with the CTC during a project visit in February. We have agreed upon the following:

• Through the production of course materials and the education of instructors the project is being spread to additional provinces
• We agree that training in micro-economy in both the public and private sectors is very necessary. This will be included in the project.
• Training of shop stewards in the private sector will be included in the project.