A blow to UNISON left
Our paths crossed only a few times in the context of Unison, but Bernie struck me as a deeply committed and principled trade unionist.
Sadly, beneath the jovial exterior there was also a troubled individual. I can only feel that Bernie's victimisation by bosses at British Gas, aided and abetted by certain union full-timers, contributed to his tragically early and untimely death.
Coming so soon after Paul Wozny's death, the loss of Bernie is a harsh blow - and not only to your own ranks. Despite some sharp differences between Workers Power and Socialist Outlook supporters in both tactics and strategy towards the unions, Bernie and Paul's deaths have robbed of us two sincere socialists fighting to transform Unison.
In a very real sense, the best tribute that those of who knew Bernie through Unison can now pay him is to redouble our efforts to build an effective challenge to the bureaucracy that currently dominates Britain's biggest union.
George Binette
Camden Unison/Workers Power
(in a personal capacity).