The 1959 sugar harvest season had begun, and Che suggested reducing the working day from eight to six hours to create more jobs. Menéndez pointed out that this would set off a wave of similar work-reduction demands throughout the Cuban labor market, increase the cost of sugar production, and affect Cuba’s profits on the world market. “You may be right,” Che replied. “But, look, the first mission of the revolution is to resolve the unemployment problem in Cuba. If we don’t resolve it, we won’t be able to stay in power.”
