Amid a severe power crisis leaving Santiago de Cuba with barely one or two hours of electricity daily, the UNE Santiago de Cuba Electric Company has posted a job announcement on its official Facebook page, offering seven job openings.
The available positions include both technical and administrative roles: Network and Systems Technician, Network and Systems Specialist A (including a variant as Inspection Group Leader), Accountant D, Operational Technician (Verifier), Consumption Supervisor, and Collection Reader.
Salaries range from 3,680 Cuban pesos for the Collection Reader to 7,696 pesos for the Network and Systems Specialist A, with additional pay based on commercial performance indicators.
The lowest salary offered is just above the national minimum of 3,210 Cuban pesos, a figure in effect since July 2026, which is meager in the face of rising inflation and declining purchasing power on the island.
The job posting requires several documents, including an autobiography that, surprisingly, requests the applicant's clothing and shoe sizes, in addition to a passport photo, photocopy of the identity card, educational degree, and a pre-employment check.
All interested candidates must appear at the corner of Corona and Aguilera for an interview with Yadira Ramírez.
This job announcement starkly contrasts with the harsh reality in the province: since June 15, 2026, the Electric Company has reorganized power cuts into nine residential blocks, reducing service to one or two hours daily per zone, and has admitted that "we may even have less than two hours of service."
Protests Erupt Amid Prolonged Outages
In July, residents in some areas of Santiago reported 26 consecutive days without power, while in September, 18-story buildings experienced nearly 40 continuous hours without electricity.
The accumulated frustration erupted this Thursday in the Mariana de la Torre neighborhood, where residents banged pots in protest against the frequent blackouts, according to a video shared by journalist Yosmany Mayeta Labrada.
National Electrical System in Disarray
The situation in Santiago is part of the broader collapse of the National Electrical System, which suffered its eighth total blackout of the year on September 18, with reconnection taking more than 32 hours.
The power generation deficit has surpassed 2,000 MW on multiple occasions, with a historic high of 2,341 MW recorded on July 8, described as the largest in the country's history.
The crisis has also impacted telecommunications: between 140 and 150 Etecsa towers go out of service daily in the province due to a lack of power or fuel for generators.
The Electric Company has publicly acknowledged lacking basic materials to repair faults, including the necessary cable for a transformer repair in Mariana de la Torre, where residents protested this Thursday.
Frequently Asked Questions About Santiago de Cuba's Power Crisis
What positions are being offered by the UNE Santiago de Cuba Electric Company?
The company is offering positions such as Network and Systems Technician, Network and Systems Specialist A, Accountant D, Operational Technician, Consumption Supervisor, and Collection Reader.
How has the power crisis affected telecommunications in Santiago de Cuba?
The power crisis has severely impacted telecommunications, with between 140 and 150 Etecsa towers going out of service daily due to energy shortages or lack of fuel for generators.
What has been the public response to the ongoing power outages in Santiago de Cuba?
Public frustration has led to protests, such as the one in Mariana de la Torre, where residents banged pots to express their discontent over the frequent blackouts.