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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Former union chief Rodney Bickerstaffe dies | Former union chief Rodney Bickerstaffe dies |
| (4 months later) | |
| Tributes paid to 72-year-old former general secretary of Unison described as a ‘true giant of our movement’ | |
| Press Association | |
| Tue 3 Oct 2017 11.47 BST | |
| Last modified on Wed 4 Oct 2017 10.24 BST | |
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| Rodney Bickerstaffe, a former general secretary of Unison, has died, the union announced. | Rodney Bickerstaffe, a former general secretary of Unison, has died, the union announced. |
| Tributes were paid to the 72-year-old, who led the public sector union NUPE before it merged to become Unison. | Tributes were paid to the 72-year-old, who led the public sector union NUPE before it merged to become Unison. |
| Former prime minister Tony Blair said: “Rodney was a giant of the Labour and trade union movement, one of the most influential trade unionists of his time and of any time. | Former prime minister Tony Blair said: “Rodney was a giant of the Labour and trade union movement, one of the most influential trade unionists of his time and of any time. |
| “He should be remembered not only for his great service to his members, but for his contribution to Britain, not least the seminal role he played in bringing about the introduction of the national minimum wage. | “He should be remembered not only for his great service to his members, but for his contribution to Britain, not least the seminal role he played in bringing about the introduction of the national minimum wage. |
| “Where we had our disagreements, he was firm but always friendly and knew at a profound level the importance of having a Labour government. He had a great sense of humour, no pretensions despite his success and was wonderful company.” | “Where we had our disagreements, he was firm but always friendly and knew at a profound level the importance of having a Labour government. He had a great sense of humour, no pretensions despite his success and was wonderful company.” |
| The general secretary, Dave Prentis, said Bickerstaffe was “a dedicated champion” of union members. | The general secretary, Dave Prentis, said Bickerstaffe was “a dedicated champion” of union members. |
| “He coupled a great sense of humour and love of laughter with a deep-rooted sense of social justice and commitment to Unison … | “He coupled a great sense of humour and love of laughter with a deep-rooted sense of social justice and commitment to Unison … |
| “At the time of Rodney’s death, it is worth reflecting on his response during the ‘winter of discontent’ to the question: ‘What about the dignity of the dead?’ Rodney replied: ‘What about the dignity of the living?’ | “At the time of Rodney’s death, it is worth reflecting on his response during the ‘winter of discontent’ to the question: ‘What about the dignity of the dead?’ Rodney replied: ‘What about the dignity of the living?’ |
| “We at Unison hold this truth close and we will continue Rodney’s fight to ensure dignity for our members, our families and all in our communities.” | “We at Unison hold this truth close and we will continue Rodney’s fight to ensure dignity for our members, our families and all in our communities.” |
| He said many members would recall Bickerstaffe’s powerful speeches and advocacy. | He said many members would recall Bickerstaffe’s powerful speeches and advocacy. |
| “Rodney was at his best when he was fighting for the causes he believed in, and our movement has today lost one of the greatest campaigners and orators of his generation … He was a friend, a comrade and a leader, and thanks to his work the lives of countless people have been changed for the better. | “Rodney was at his best when he was fighting for the causes he believed in, and our movement has today lost one of the greatest campaigners and orators of his generation … He was a friend, a comrade and a leader, and thanks to his work the lives of countless people have been changed for the better. |
| “Rodney was the very best of us, a true giant of our movement and we will all miss him greatly.” | “Rodney was the very best of us, a true giant of our movement and we will all miss him greatly.” |
| Bickerstaffe replaced Jack Jones, the Transport and General Workers Union leader, as the president of the National Pensioners Convention (NPC) in 2001 and served for four years. | Bickerstaffe replaced Jack Jones, the Transport and General Workers Union leader, as the president of the National Pensioners Convention (NPC) in 2001 and served for four years. |
| Jan Shortt, NPC general secretary, said: “Rodney was a passionate advocate for Britain’s older people, and often took on the Labour government over issues which he felt were wrong such as the refusal to restore the link between the state pension and earnings, and the way in which social care was means-tested. | Jan Shortt, NPC general secretary, said: “Rodney was a passionate advocate for Britain’s older people, and often took on the Labour government over issues which he felt were wrong such as the refusal to restore the link between the state pension and earnings, and the way in which social care was means-tested. |
| “He was extremely funny and filled the room with his enthusiasm for life. He often used to begin his speeches by saying that when he started as a young trade union official, he turned up to a refuse collectors dispute with a brand new brief case and was met with laughter when he told the workers his name was Rodney. | “He was extremely funny and filled the room with his enthusiasm for life. He often used to begin his speeches by saying that when he started as a young trade union official, he turned up to a refuse collectors dispute with a brand new brief case and was met with laughter when he told the workers his name was Rodney. |
| “In later years, he used to say ‘I don’t care what they call us, so long as we get a decent state pension’. | “In later years, he used to say ‘I don’t care what they call us, so long as we get a decent state pension’. |
| “He was one of the labour movement’s greats and the NPC is proud to have had the benefit of his skills, intellect and humour.” | “He was one of the labour movement’s greats and the NPC is proud to have had the benefit of his skills, intellect and humour.” |
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