FLAVIO OCAMPO has a really infectious revolutionary spirit.

I interviewed the young Nicaraguan trade union leader while she was in Birmingham as a guest of the Unison West Midlands International Forum.

As I spoke with Ocampo, I was reminded of the words of the legendary Cuban revolutionary Che Guevara when he said: “If you tremble with indignation at every injustice, then you are a comrade of mine.”

During my talk with the officer for young members, culture and sport for the Federation of Health Workers (Fetsalud), I put to her that there were some — even some identifying as being on the left — that believed the 1979 Sandinista revolution had been betrayed by President Daniel Ortega.

This was when Ocampo’s voice broke and trembled with an unmistakable passion.

“I have heard this before,” she said. “This mainly comes from people who have never even been to Nicaragua.

“My advice to these people is to come to Nicaragua and see for yourselves.”

Ocampo explained: “We live it and see the reality of our country.

“There is lots of misinformation being circulated about the Nicaraguan revolution that is aimed at manipulating people, and much of this is coming through the US, where people receive money to spread lies about us.”

She added: “Anyone who has any doubts about the Nicaraguan revolution should come and see for themselves and not just accept these lies.”

Ocampo told me how the propaganda was ramped up before and during the US-sponsored coup attempt in 2018, where “the opposition flooded social media with fake news and particularly targeted young people and students.

“But the people stayed strong and defended the revolution — defeating the attempt to remove all that we have won.”

Ocampo, a trained pharmacist, is clearly one of the bright lights of the trade union movement in Nicaragua.

Her union, Fetsalud, celebrating its 50th year this year, is firmly committed to supporting the Sandinista Front and safeguarding the revolution.

During that time, Fetsalud has faced persecution from the former US-backed dictatorship of the Somoza family that ruled Nicaragua from 1936 until the revolution of 1979.

The union worked to defend the jobs, terms and conditions of its members during cholera and leptospirosis epidemics without protective measures.

After the Sandinista revolution, there was a massive investment in health services and other essential services. There was also a growth in the country’s trade union movement.

When the far-right Violeta Chamorro defeated the Sandinistas in the 1990 presidential election — marred by continued interference by the US — Nicaragua became the cheerleader across Central America for US-backed neoliberal austerity, which saw the privatisation of health services and other key services such as education, energy and telecommunications.

Chamorro slashed the health budget established by the revolution in half — leaving many families across the country to fend for themselves in a health system they could no longer afford or access.

Trade union rights were also stripped away, collective bargaining agreements junked, and, as trade union strength waned, living standards plummeted.

By the time Ortega led the Sandinistas back to power in 2007, the country was on its knees as the second poorest country in the Americas after Haiti.

Unlike in Britain, where trade unions are regarded as, at best, an irritant but, at worst, the embarrassing relative that needs to be disowned, in Nicaragua, unions were central to the rebuilding of the country.

“My family are Sandinistas, so I have always been well aware of all the sacrifices made by the heroes and martyrs to rescue the country and to try to build our revolution,” Ocampo told me.

She said this was part of the motivation that drove her to become active in the trade union movement.

“I find it exciting to be active in the union. We carry out a dual role in working to win improved terms and conditions for our members, but we are also active in wider political issues.”

Ocampo was clear that since the end of the neoliberal years, “we now have a government interested in improving conditions for workers and delivering better healthcare for the people.”

She explained that in Nicaragua, they have “a community healthcare model based on three principles: promotion, prevention and participation. It is a system that is completely free of charge.

“It is a system that is very much linked to the community. We have mobile clinics so that we can reach out into the rural areas and build strong links with communities.”

“Our health system aims to bring services closer to the communities — a model that really helped during the Covid-19 pandemic.”

Ocampo explained that “during the pandemic, we did millions of house-to-house visits and carried out a huge vaccination programme.”

“This all fits in with the government strategy of care and solidarity for everyone.”

I asked Ocampo whether she felt the re-election of Donald Trump to the presidency of the US would make any difference to Nicaragua.

She said: “Same old, same old! The policies of the US will remain the same.

“Whoever the US leader is will continue with the same fascist policy of intervention to try to rob us of our natural resources.

“This is our country with our own traditions and culture, and we intend to remain that way.

“We will continue to resist and will remain strong. We will fight to maintain our independence and sovereignty.”

What was the main message Ocampo was trying to pass on to trade unionists in Britain during her visit?

“Play an active part in your union and do so with passion, conviction and responsibility.”

Ocampo’s closing remarks are clearly important lessons for British trade unionists and activists anywhere in the world, but they also triggered another thought in my head.

Far too often, international trade union visitors are expected to recount what is happening in their nations and ask for the usual solidarity. Sometimes — if we are lucky — we might feel inspired by what they say and maybe pass a motion of solidarity, send some money or sometimes make a reciprocal visit.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with any of that. But here we have Ocampo passing on a clear message of the importance of more activity in the British trade union movement — a movement that has seen activity and numbers sink drastically over the last decades.

She asks this not in an arrogant way that suggests that Nicaragua has all the answers — she never claims that. But in a way that I believe recognises the importance of building a strong member-led international trade union movement that is clear about the need for linking the fights for workplace and political rights.

Ocampo clearly “trembles with indignation” against the exploitation of the working class. This makes her a comrade of mine and, I hope, of all who read this.