Tributes paid to Ken Cameron


The FBU firefighters’ union, the TUC and other trade unionists paid tribute last month to Ken Cameron, former FBU general secretary and TUC general council member who died at the age of 74. 


Cameron led the FBU through the fallout from the strikes of 1977-78 and other challenges between 1980 and 2000.The union said that Cameron protected firefighters’ pay and conditions “throughout the Thatcher years and fought off the threat of privatisation of the fire service which was being mooted by right-wing think tanks at the time”. 


In the Labour Party, he was a well-known left winger, and an internationalist who made the first pro-Palestine resolution at the TUC in 1982. His relationship with Nelson Mandela resulted in the ANC leader becoming an honorary member of the FBU in 1990. 


Matt Wrack, FBU general secretary, said: “He will be much missed by this union and by firefighters all around the country”. And Frances O’Grady, TUC general secretary said: “He was the very essence of an intelligent trade unionist, always able to see the bigger picture and champion the cause of all working people.”

https://www.fbu.org.uk/news/2016/05/17/tributes-paid-former-fbu-general-secretary-ken-cameron

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/may/27/ken-cameron-obituary

www.morningstaronline.co.uk/a-7109-Former-Fire-Brigades-Union-leader-Ken-Cameron-dies