Dear fiends, I’ve just returned from the RMT Annual General Meeting were the warmth and solidarity from my comrades overwhelms and fills me with pride that I am part of such a wonderful fighting trade union family. On Monday at the AGM we learned of the death of my good friend and comrade - Regional Organiser John MacDonald - who died of cancer. The RMT immediately suspended business to hear tributes from Bob Crow and Greg Hewitt (John’s decades long personal friend and comrade) which was followed by a resounding ovation from everyone at the conference. 20 years ago as a young trade unionist, attending national trade union events, I was fortunate enough to meet and to get to know John. By then John had been an important and influential RMT activist in our union for over 20 years himself, involved in such massive battles as the famous ‘Manchester Piccadilly 4 dispute’ – were 4 guards reps were sacked by BR. He was also a leading light in the rank and file organisation the ‘Campaign For a Fighting and Democratic Union’. If our union is strong, fighting and militant today it is because John dedicated his life to making it so. As that young trade unionist it would be an absolute joy and delight to sit in Mac’s company. We would hear stories of battles with the bosses and battles with our union bureaucracy. John was also a great singer, and at the end of the night after we’d had a few beers and put the world to rights John would get the songs started – trade union songs and folk songs. You would pay to be in that company! And no matter how much drinking and singing had been done the night before, John would dominate the proceedings at the AGM the next day. He could destroy the top table on issues affecting the rank and file of our union if it was necessary, or have the delegates to our union’s parliament in stitches of laughter as he spoke from the rostrum. One of the proudest moments in my life was with John at the 2003 Special General Meeting in Glasgow. John was the chair of the Standing Orders Committee and I was the secretary. Traditionally the chair moves the report and the secretary seconds it. The issue was big. It was about the union’s relationship with the Labour Party and whether we would affiliate to the new Scottish Socialist Party (a new and exiting political development at the time). Cheekily I asked John if I could move the report – it was my home town, it was about the SSP. John didn’t bat an eyelid and agreed that I could do it. Needless to say, me and John got the report through and the rest of course is history. Myself and Geoff Revell went to see John a few weeks ago. I had been putting it off as I was scared to see him knowing that the cancer did not have long to claim his life. I needn’t have worried. John immediately put me at ease. A bottle of whiskey was put on the table and it was normal business with my good friends – the bloody bosses, union politics and good company. I hope I can say I’ve learned a lot from John. I am absolutely certain I am proud to have known the man and could count him as a friend. He was probably the most stubborn man I’ve ever met in my life - to say that John didn’t suffer fools would be putting it mildly. He was also the most brilliant, generous, good humoured and life affirming human being too. I am proud to have known him. Our union has lost an important friend and our class has lost a fighter second to none. I will miss him. Long live the memory of Johnny Mac! Bob Crow has circulated John’s last wishes to all RMT branches: "All the money in the world cannot save me, but it seems that money can possibly save Brian Munro. It is my great wish that all individual members, Branches and Regional Councils, donate generously to the Brian Munro Cancer Fighting Fund appeal on behalf of my comrade and friend, Brian Munro."
Posted on: Sat, 29 Jun 2013 02:36:03 +0000
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