Ken Cameron (trade unionist)
Ken Cameron (9 December 1941 – 16 May 2016) was a Scottish
trade unionist. He was the head of the Fire Brigades Union
for 20 years, from 1980 to 2000.
Early life
Born in
fire brigade.[1][2] While there, he developed an interest in horse racing, and became a supporter of Aston Villa F.C.[1]
Fire Brigades Union
He joined the
1984/85 miners' strike, he campaigned in support of the miners and made a loan of £200,000 of FBU funds to the NUM.[2] While he used threats to strike to successfully maintain pay and conditions for members, under his leadership, the union never needed to mount a strike.[1] Cameron celebrated the Labour Party's general election win in 1997 but by 1999, Cameron was disillusioned with them, and he advocated that the FBU disaffiliate from Labour; this finally happened in 2004.[3]
Later life
He retired from the FBU in 2000, serving as chair of the
Morning Star) and on the Central Arbitration Committee,[2] and moved to Glasgow. Cameron died at the age of 74, on 16 May 2016.[1]
References
- ^ The Herald, 20 May 2016
- ^ a b c d Paul Routledge, "Fire Brigades Union's colourful leader Ken Cameron was a 'socialist and a comrade'", The Mirror, 17 May 2016
- ^ a b c Jon Stone, "Former Fire Brigades Union general secretary Ken Cameron dies", The Independent, 17 May 2016
- ^ Trades Union Congress, "Congress Report 2011