Venezuelan trade unionist at FBU conference

This year's FBU national conference received a very special international visitor: Ruben Linares from the Venezuelan Transport Union and one of the founding members of the UNT (the Venezuelan TUC). He was invited to address FBU conference in order to give delegates a flavour of the Venezuelan Revolution and what it has achieved for the people.

Ruben gave a passionate speech, interrupted by much applause, in which he explained how the revenues from Venezuelan oil were now being used to alleviate the needs of the poorest in Venezuela. Illiteracy has been eradicated and a high-quality, free health system is now available for all Venezuelans. Ruben invited all FBU members to visit Venezuela to see the revolution with their own eyes.

Ruben also denounced the role of imperialism which has attempted to overthrow the democratically elected government of Hugo Chavez and which today is trying to discredit the revolution through lies and distortions. He said "the capitalists were happy when we were giving away our oil to the rich companies and when the money was being put away in American banks. Now that we sell it cheap to the poor of the world, as we did to the poor in the Bronx, so as they can keep warm in winter, they scream blue murder, claiming that we are wasting our resources!"

He finished his speech by thanking the FBU and the labour movement in general for its solidarity with the Venezuelan people and encouraged us to work for our own revolution in Britain.