‘A big sad loss for all of us’ – John Kelly RIP

July 27 2016

Tributes have been paid to CWU Glasgow and Motherwell assistant branch secretary and political officer John Kelly, who died earlier this week.

John, who had been diagnosed with motor neuron disease in January, also served as a Labour Party councillor in Glasgow, representing the city’s Garscadden and Scotstounhill ward since 2012.

After starting work for what was then the GPO, John was employed on exchange work and as a private services technician and played an active role within the union, joining the then Post Office Engineering Union (one of the CWU’s predecessor unions) back in 1970, becoming steadily more involved and serving on his branch committee as well as holding various branch positions and becoming a regular delegate to the union’s Annual Conference.

He was a longstanding member of the Labour Party and regularly represented the union as a delegate to the party’s Scottish Conference. And, as well as his city councillor responsibilities, John was also a member of the CWU’s Scottish Political Forum.

CWU deputy general secretary (telecoms) Andy Kerr spoke of his “great sadness” at the news of John’s death, describing him as “a comrade and good friend of mine over many years, who was always someone I could turn to for support.

“John not only represented workers as a union rep, his great passion was politics and, as a committed socialist, he fought tirelessly for working class people particularly throughout Glasgow,” Andy added.

“He was extremely proud to become a Glasgow City Councillor in 2012 and served on the council alongside my son Matthew and they also became close friends,” Andy continued, saying that John had been “strong minded and if he had something to say you would hear it, whether you wanted to or not.

“At the many Scottish Labour Party Conferences we attended together John would always make a contribution in debate and people did listen to his wise words. His passing is a sad loss to the trade union and labour movement and he will be sadly missed by all that knew him.”

Glasgow and Motherwell Branch secretary John Donnelly said that John had been a “close personal friend and his death is a big sad loss to all of us.”

Mr Donnelly paid tribute to Mr Kelly’s many years of service to the union, saying: “John was our assistant branch secretary for many years and was a regular delegate to Annual Conference and a very articulate speaker in debate.

“John was very well-liked and widely respected and his death is a great loss to everyone,” he added.

And CWU general secretary Dave Ward added his tribute as well, saying: “At this terribly sad time, our thoughts are with John’s partner Trisha and all his family and close friends.

“John was always keen to make a key political contribution on behalf of his branch whenever he attended Conference and he was totally committed to our movement,” said Dave.

“He always showed great dedication and conviction for the wellbeing of his members and constituents and I know that he will be missed by all his friends and colleagues in the union.”

Speaking on behalf of the union across Scotland, regional secretary John Brown said:

“John Kelly will be greatly missed by all of the Scottish Region of the CWU. His contributions not just to our political committee but also to the regional committee were always cogent, pertinent and down to earth, and his work as a councillor in Glasgow was an extension of his caring and compassionate attitude towards CWU members and the constituents he represented.

“John’s participation in debates at Scottish Labour Party conferences on behalf of the CWU were always carefully considered and balanced with no doubts left that he was speaking on behalf of the CWU and the views of our members. He was always a delegate that could be relied upon to get to the kernel of any debates and to provide an honest opinion on the real matters that affect our members lives and work.

“It was my and his many colleagues pleasure? to work alongside and with him at all levels.”