TRIBUTES TO PAUL
From Jim Kelly, ex-Chair United Left
The United Left is sad to hear of the passing away of our comrade Paul Birkett.
Paul was a hard working, dedicated and loyal member of the UL, especially over the last few difficult years for the Left in Unite.
Paul was an activist in Amicus Unity Gazette in his workplace and the West Midlands region.
He will be sorely missed by the many Left comrades who knew him and who stood side by side with him in the struggle over many decades. We send our condolences to his family
From Martin Mayer, former Chair United Left
Paul Birkett (left) and Martin Mayer at a United Left meeting
It was with great sadness that I learnt of the sudden death last week of Paul Birkett, former Secretary of United Left and my close colleague and dear friend.
Paul was our first Secretary following the establishment of United Left with me as Chair in 2008 in those heady days of completing the merger of TGWU and AMICUS to create UNITE The Union. This was no easy task, especially for ex-AMICUS Unity Gazette activists like Paul who came under intense pressure not to join TGWU Broad Left activists in the creation of United Left. In the end it was the fact that certain ex-Gazette Executive Council members joined ex-T&G Broad Left members to form a majority on the new joint Executive Council that was to secure the new Union for the left as a fighting-back union with lay democracy at its core. United Left with its strong lay membership base was key to that battle.
Paul, who had been Secretary of AMICUS Unity Gazette (AMICUS left organisation), brought to United Left a certain professionalism and secretarial competence that had been lacking in TGWU Broad Left. Working quietly in the background, he ensured meetings were properly planned, premises booked in advance, minutes drawn up, hustings organised and as far as possible decisions were acted upon. Thanks to Paul, United Left began life as a competent, open and democratic space for left activists across both halves of the new UNITE.
Paul was a quiet and unassuming man but deeply principled and firmly grounded in his strong belief that the new Union must have lay member democracy at its core. After all like many other AMICUS members, he’d seen first hand how too much power concentrated in the hands of the General Secretary and senior officers can frustrate the wishes and demands of the membership, especially when they need the union’s support in times of struggle.
Paul earned everyone’s respect for his common decency, his pleasant manner and his undoubted dedication to the Left, his strong commitment to all issues of equality and his unwavering belief in accountability and democratic participation of the members.
Paul did a fine job as Secretary of United Left and was one of the key figures, though perhaps not always recognised, in ensuring the success of the merger to create a democratic fighting back UNITE that is always there for its members. Paul retired from his job and as UL Secretary only a short time ago. He was a keen walker, an avid reader and loved to share a pint with friends. It’s very sad that his well-earned retirement was cut short so unfairly at such a young age. He will be sorely missed by those who knew and respected him.
From Martin Hoare, President Birmingham TUC
We mourn the loss of a fallen comrade
PAUL BIRKETT
