IAN LAVERY MP warns that decades of neoliberal policies have left former industrial communities behind — but a renewed Labour commitment to working people could change the political landscape
ON JANUARY 24 Argentina’s first general strike in over five years brought to a standstill the capital Buena Aires and many large cities and towns including Cordoba, Rosario, San Miguel de Tucuman, Mendoza, Mar del Plata and Bahia Blanca.
Reports from the three main Argentinian union federations led by the General Confederation of Labour (CGT) say over 400,000 strikers took part in a demonstration in Buenos Aires alone.
The CGT were backed by the CTA-T, (Argentine Workers’ Central Union) and the CTA-A (Argentine Workers’ Central Union (Autonomous),) which together represent millions of public- and private-sector workers in education, transport, construction, manufacturing, healthcare and energy.
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One hundred years after 1.7m workers shut the country down in defence of the miners, the struggles that sparked the 1926 General Strike are still with us – and will be honoured on London’s May Day march this year, writes MARY ADOSSIDES


