Jerrom who,in addition to being an active trade unionist and eueoe Union Voice, is the secretary of the Britain-Cuba —.. has just returned from a three week visit to Cuba. In an sc atoagieghs _ Connie Kirkby for The Week, he declared that the visit had been a per: ous experience for him and that it would take a long time to tell of a the achievements of the five post-revolutionary years. He had come away convinced of the success of the revolution and that the Cuban people are 100% behind the Government.
During his visit he was able to see housing estates, schools, factoires, state farms and hospitals - all built since the revolution and wherever he went he was absolutely free to stop anyone he wished and talk to them. He discussed with workers from various fields of work and discovered their attitudes to the revolutionary governement. He asked a worker who was making new cutlery, "hat did you do before the revolution?" and the worker replied that he merely existed, moving around and getting labouring jobs, such as cane cutting and other seasonal work if available. Since the revolution he has had permanent employment, a regular weekly wage, and lives in a three-rpomed bungalow on a new housing estate. Neither he nor his wife had been to school but his children were all now being educated and two daughters were at university on government scholarships.
George asked a hotel worker, "How has the revolution affected you?". He replied that before the revolution although it was true to say that as a hotel worker he had been in the 'small priveleged' section of society he had had no security and no protection. One word from a guest and he could be immediately dismissed; to keep his job it was necessary to be servile. He told of the changes since the revolution. Before he was a 'servant'; now he was a worker with self-respect and protection. He had a guaranteed wage and employment and an organisation to protect him.
A Negro worker, working as a storeman in a big store was asked how the revolution had changed things for him. He explained that it would not have been possible for him to have his job prior to the revolution as racial discrimination was widely practised in spite of laws forbidding it. Now he had absolute equality with everyone else in Cuba. George then asked an accountant who had worked for an American oil company and who had been in the position of being able to buy his own house and have a car, how the revolution had affected him. "Surely you have lost something as a result" he was asked. The accountant replied that he was still employed by the oil company, now nationalised. Now he had responsibilities which he could never have had prior to the revolution. Asked if he was being paid more for this responsibility, he replied "No, but nor have I had a cut, but I now get immense satisfaction from doing the job, and that is a reward."
Ed, Notes: This is part one of the interview - space preventing us from putting in the whole article. Next week, George Jerrom will have something to say about the Cubans! reaction to the flight of Castro's sister to Mexico, and will speak about his meeting with Fidel Castro.