By The American Tribune | Created at 2026-08-19 10:16:52 | Updated at 2026-08-20 05:26:39
19 hours ago
A powerful North American labor union representing roughly 600,000 active and retired members is facing congressional scrutiny over allegations that its officials used union resources to advance the interests of communist Cuba. Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA) has demanded answers from the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers concerning its contacts with Cuban officials, political advocacy and trips to the island. The senator is also investigating whether workers’ dues helped finance any of those activities.
Cassidy, chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, sent the union a letter detailing the allegations and requesting extensive financial and organizational records. The inquiry focuses on IAM officials who allegedly participated in Cuban government-backed advocacy, promoted changes to American policy and provided a venue where a Cuban diplomat addressed union members. Cassidy gave IAM until August 27th to respond to his questions.
David Ramírez Álvarez, second secretary at the Cuban Embassy in Washington, reportedly spoke during a U.S. Hands Off Cuba campaign meeting at Machinists Hall in Wilmington, California. Cassidy said Ramírez Álvarez instructed union members on lobbying, monitoring legislation and participating in national activism intended to undermine current American policy toward Cuba. IAM District 190 Area Director Kevin Kucera was reportedly among those present.
According to a report from Fox News Digital, IAM officials have also traveled to Cuba, issued messages supporting the regime’s policy objectives and backed efforts to remove Cuba from the United States’ list of state sponsors of terrorism. Fox reported that the union did not respond when contacted for comment. No formal finding has yet been issued against IAM or its officials.
Cassidy’s letter to IAM leadership asks whether union dues paid for Cuban political advocacy, travel, meetings or lobbying. “American workers should not be compelled to finance advocacy,” Cassidy wrote. He also demanded to know whether Cuban entities reimbursed IAM, whether political work was performed during paid union hours and whether Machinists Hall was provided to the U.S. Hands Off Cuba Committee at fair-market value.
Kucera reportedly appeared in a video released by the Cuban Embassy urging Americans to protest in defense of “the solidarity of Cuba.” Another IAM representative told attendees at the California meeting that “the job now is defending Cuba in whatever way we can.” Tom Brandon, an executive with the California State Conference of Machinists, was also reportedly involved in securing a California AFL-CIO resolution urging Washington to remove Cuba from the terrorism list.
Cassidy’s inquiry follows a State Department report alleging that Havana has cultivated contacts within American labor organizations to influence U.S. policy. According to the report, the Cuban government uses trips, strategy sessions and relationships with union officials to build support for lifting sanctions and ending Cuba’s terrorism designation. Cassidy said the available evidence raises concerns that IAM officials participated in a “foreign influence scheme.”
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The senator also cited Cuba’s history of hostility toward the United States, including the 1996 destruction of two unarmed aircraft operated by Brothers to the Rescue. Cuban military fighter jets shot down the planes over international waters, killing four U.S. nationals, including three U.S. citizens. Cassidy questioned why American workers should be forced to subsidize political activity benefiting the government responsible for those deaths.
Cassidy further asked IAM to explain how support for Havana can be reconciled with the union’s stated defense of workers, since independent labor unions remain prohibited in Cuba. His letter requests a full accounting of IAM members and officers involved in Cuba-related advocacy, all contacts with Cuban officials and the number of paid union hours devoted to the effort. IAM’s response is due August 27th.
