Older man with gray hair and glasses speaking in front of a microphone — Juan Castillo | La Derecha Diario

Camara — Juan Castillo | La Derecha Diario

The Minister of Labor wants unions to have mandatory membership

Juan Castillo, from the Communist Party, seeks a union model like the one in the Cuban dictatorship

26/07/2025 22:06:00h

Editorial Team

The Minister of Labor and Social Security, Juan Castillo, stated during his participation in the Senate Labor Affairs Committee, held last Thursday, July 17, that "there is no article in the law that prevents mandatory union membership."

This statement was made in the context of the summons to the head of the Ministry of Labor and Social Security (MTSS) following the controversy over the total shutdown of the fishing sector.

The minister from the Communist Party assured that his ministry doesn't ask unions "whether they have mandatory membership or not."

Red flag with blue and white diagonal stripes, a yellow ship’s wheel and a black anchor in the center, and the initials SUNTMA and FSM in black.

Union march | La Derecha Diario

Fishing conflict

The fishing sector has been paralyzed for two months because the communist unionists of SUNTMA (National Union of Maritime and Related Workers) are carrying out a wild strike, violating the collective bargaining agreement.

A group of ultra-radical unionists, aligned with the Communist Party, are disregarding what they signed and subjecting workers to a wild strike for purely political reasons.

Juan Castillo, far from resolving the conflict, is pouring fuel on the fire, feeding the radical extremists in the union and opposing what the business owners are rightly proposing.

Instead of seeking solutions, the minister promotes the conflict, fosters discord, and encourages the radicals.

Cuban union logo | La Derecha Diario

Cuban-style unionism

It is well known that Castillo is the secretary general of the Communist Party, which defends and supports the Cuban narco-dictatorship established in 1959.

In the Caribbean tyranny, workers must mandatorily join union organizations, which, of course, are completely controlled by the Communist Party of Cuba.

Now in Uruguay, the Minister of Labor is proposing a similar model. He intends for Uruguayan workers to be mandatorily affiliated with a union and, of course, to pay union dues.

Red flag with blue and white diagonal stripes, a yellow ship’s wheel and a black anchor in the center, with the initials SUNTMA and FSM in black.

SUNTMA union march | La Derecha Diario

A totalitarian model, antidemocratic and in violation of any principle of individual freedom.

Castillo acts like a Soviet dictator. He attacks the business sector, promotes confrontations, and destroys dialogue.

He is a danger to labor relations and to all of democratic Uruguay.

➡️ Uruguay