Union movement mourns Jimmy Knapp

RMT transport union leader Jimmy Knapp died last month after a long fight against cancer.

Knapp joined the National Union of Railwaymen (NUR) when he started as a signal box lad in 1955. He became a full-time official of the union in 1972 and took over as general secretary in 1983. He continued as general secretary following the merger with the National Union of Seaman in 1990 which created the RMT.

TUC general secretary John Monks said: "He was passionate about the role of unions in giving workers access to education and skills. The quiet revolution which is now going on in the workplace and especially in workplace learning owes much to his efforts...He was a great internationalist too. He was an out and out champion of the anti-apartheid movement when others had reservations and qualifications."