People hold posters in support of Colombia's President Gustavo Petro during a rally backing his proposed reforms at the Bolivar Square in Bogota, Colombia, September 19, 2024
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COLOMBIA’S first left-wing government is battling to deliver reforms and peace in the teeth of entrenched opposition from the ruling class, Labour delegates heard on Tuesday evening.
Visiting Colombian Congressman Alirio Uribe described the ambitious social projects of the Gustavo Petro administration, including redistribution of land to poor farmers, lifting 1.6 million people out if extreme poverty and rolling out public healthcare.
Above all it was committed to a complex peace process, not just involving rehabilitating former guerillas of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), which disarmed in 2017, but ongoing talks with left-wing militias which are still fighting (like the ELN) and right-wing paramilitary and mafia groups such as the Gulf Clan.
Ben Chacko talks to RMT leader EDDIE DEMPSEY about how the key to fixing broken Britain lies in collective sectoral bargaining, restoring unions’ ability to take solidarity strike action and bringing about the much-vaunted ‘wave of insourcing’
Incoming Usdaw general secretary JOANNE THOMAS talks to Ben Chacko about workers’ rights, Labour and how to arrest the decline of the high street
Durham Miners’ Association general secretary ALAN MARDGHUM speaks to Ben Chacko ahead of Gala Day 2025
