Many socialists and Trade Unionists across Wales and beyond will be deeply saddened by the news that Steve passed away on Tuesday 14th September after a short battle with Cancer.
Image: Steve speaking at PCS conference in Brighton, 2012, photo courtesy of Pete Grubb.
Steve was active in many many campaigns over his 40 plus years of activism, he was committed to fighting against injustice wherever he saw it, from anti fascism and environmental campaigns to fighting for the rights of working class people and in particular in his union, the Public and Commercial Services union (PCS).
Steve was a hugely well respected trade unionist throughout the movement. He first became at rep in the Inland Revenue Staff Federation (IRSF) Cornwall & Plymouth Branch in 1977 and was involved in a series of national disputes including the 1981 cross Civil Service strike which sought to directly take on Thatcher’s reforms to Civil Service pay.
Steve transferred to Wrexham in the mid 80s where he again quickly took a leading role in his new branch. He played an active role in the IRSF Wales & Midland Regional Committee and was first elected to the IRSF Executive Committee in 1999.
When Steve was elected as Vice President of the by then PCS R&C group in 2007 there were memorable cheers from the floor of conference when the result was confirmed.
Steve’s compassionate and yet frank representation of members was legendary and bought him respect from members and management alike. He inspired and mentored many young trade union reps whilst also recruiting others.
His approach in all negotiations he was involved in was always ’Be realistic, demand the impossible’ a philosophy that led to many gains for members including in 2015 when his employer announced a major office closure programme. Although the Wrexham Tax Office where he worked would eventually close, his campaign to stop the closures did hold the tide of redundancies back for several years and resulted in the retention of the Porthmadog office, one of only a handful of closures in the UK that was reversed.
Steve remained involved in many cross union campaigns and activities after retirement. In recent years Steve was a very active member of Left Unity Wales and made a huge contribution to debate and manifesto as well as being an active member of the Left Unity UK Executive.
Even upon learning that he was ill a few weeks ago, rather than thinking of himself he began to sow the seeds within his PCS Associate and Retired Members branch of a campaign to improve access to face to face GP services in a bid to ensure that no one else would suffer from late diagnosis of serious illness.
Steve will be remembered affectionately across the movement for his love of festivals, his trade unionism, his longstanding support of environmental issues, his staunch anti fascist work and his continued campaigning for a better world.
Our condolences to his partner Myra and children, Emma, Hannah & Tom and wider family and comrades.
By Marianne Owens, Chair of PCS Wales
