MPs honour Jack Jones, the 'greatest trade unionist'
24th April 2009
Members of parliament can now pay their respects to Jack Jones,
former general secretary of the Transport and General Workers'
Union, who sadly died on Tuesday this week.
Jim Sheridan, MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire North and joint
chair of the Unite group of MPs, and originator of early day motion
number 1321 honouring Jack now laid before parliament said:
"MPs from across the house want to come together to pay tribute to
one of the giants of 20th century public life. As a young trade
unionist, Jack Jones was a hero to me. His vision and his values
helped build our great movement, he gave a lifetime of service to
this country, and his legacy is there for all to see in the very
real changes he secured for ordinary, working people.
"As members of parliament we wish to offer our heartfelt
condolences to Jack's family at this time, and, in this small way,
to commemorate the life and achievements of this remarkable
man."
Tony Woodley, joint general secretary of Unite, added: "We have
lost the greatest trade unionist of the entire post-war era, a man
whose name will be forever associated with the finest achievements
and highest values of our movement. Indeed, the entire history of
trade unionism in Britain yields few comparable figures.
"Jack led from the front, committed to full equality for working
women, his opposition to all forms of racism and injustice, and his
unflinching support for workers fighting oppression in all lands.
Modest in his lifestyle, uninterested in any honour beyond serving
the movement, he embodied everything a trade unionist should
be."
Jack Jones led the T&G to become the strongest working-class
organisation the UK has ever seen, with more than two million
members.
The early day motion celebrating Jack's life and achievements
states: That this house expresses its condolences to the family of
Jack Jones, former general secretary of the Transport and General
Workers' Union, the strongest working-class organisation the UK has
ever seen, with more than two million men and women united to
secure a better life for all, both at home and internationally; and
believes the UK has lost the greatest trade unionist of the entire
post-war era, a man whose name will be forever associated with the
finest achievements and highest values of the trade union
movement.
ENDS
For further information, please contact Pauline Doyle on 07976
832 861
Sign the online book of condolences for
Jack Jones.
Unite for Jobs
On 16th May 2009, Unite will hold a march through Birmingham.
This will be the centrepiece of the 'Unite for Jobs' campaign. The
March for Jobs will spotlight the need for urgent assistance to
defend jobs.
To see what the Unite for Jobs demands are or for information on
the march visit: http://action.unitetheunion.org
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