Scores of teachers and educators from the José Martí District 1 in Santiago de Cuba found themselves waiting for hours on Saturday at the Heredia Theater, eager to withdraw their salaries in cash. This situation was brought to light by independent journalist Yosmany Mayeta Labrada.
One teacher, who requested anonymity, mentioned that the banking point set up at this cultural venue experienced a connection failure starting Friday, halting all payment operations.
By 10:00 AM on Saturday, bank officials had yet to arrive to provide explanations or solutions, as reported by Mayeta Labrada.
Photographs taken at that time depict numerous people waiting both inside and outside the Heredia Theater, some sitting on the ground during the prolonged wait.
This incident highlights the dual crisis facing Cuban educators: not only is receiving a salary uncertain, but turning it into cash has become an additional ordeal. "Earning a salary is already difficult; converting it into cash shouldn't become a day of uncertainty as well," wrote Mayeta Labrada when posting the report.
The situation in Santiago de Cuba is not unique. On September 3, just nine days before this event, the ATM machines at the city's train terminal were found smeared with excrement, interpreted as a spontaneous protest against the cash shortage.
The Broader Struggle for Cash in Cuba
In previous months, some bank branches in the province only served about 50 retirees a day, forcing many to queue from the previous afternoon, while exchanging a transfer for cash could incur a commission of up to 50%.
The Central Bank issued Resolution 74/2026 in July, removing the 5,000 CUP cap for cash transactions between economic actors, yet this measure didn't resolve the country's chronic liquidity issues.
Challenges Persist in the Education Sector
The education sector also faces its own setbacks. The Ministry of Labor's Resolution 18/2026 updated teachers' salaries starting in July—ranging from 6,130 to 7,735 CUP monthly depending on their level of education—but payment issues persist across various provinces.
In August, a teacher from Urbano Noris, Holguín, reported not having been paid since May, and in Camagüey, teachers faced at least two months of unpaid salaries.
This accumulated frustration has direct repercussions: the teacher exodus led to a shortage of 24,000 teaching positions at the start of the 2026-2027 school year across the country, a stark indicator of a system failing to retain its workforce.
FAQs about Cash Shortages in Santiago de Cuba
What caused the delay in cash withdrawals for teachers in Santiago de Cuba?
A connection failure at the banking point in the Heredia Theater disrupted payment operations, leading to the delay.
How are Cuban teachers affected by salary payment issues?
Cuban teachers face uncertainty in receiving their salaries and converting them into cash, compounded by longstanding payment delays in various provinces.
What measures has the Central Bank taken to address cash shortages?
The Central Bank removed the 5,000 CUP cap for cash transactions in July 2026, but this hasn't resolved the underlying liquidity crisis.