CWU praises work of solid Labour supporter Bryan Stanley

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Trade union praises work of 'solid' Labour supporter Bryan Stanley

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THE head of a national trade union has praised the political achievements of the late Bryan Stanley, who died on Sunday.

The 83-year-old played a pivotal role in the battles with Conservative governments against privatisation of services in his role as general secretary of the former Post Office Engineering Union (POEU) and the National Communications Union (NCU).

Labour party member Mr Stanley, who was also leader of Hertsmere Borough Council and a long-serving member of Elstree and Borehamwood Town Council, joined the union when he started working for the post office at the age of 14.

He rose through the union to become general secretary and his work from 1972 to his retirement in 1986 has been praised by Billy Hayes, the current general secretary of the communication workers union, a merger of the old POEU and NCU.

He said: “Bryan was a solid Labour Party and trade unionist until the day he died.

“He was involved at the head of the union at difficult times, like the privatisation of British Telecom. He also oversaw the merger of the Post Office Engineering Union and Civil and Public Services Association to form the NCU.

“He was a long-standing servant of the Labour Party and trade union movement, always looking to serve the disadvantaged. He will be sadly missed.”

Claire Ward, Labour MP for Watford, was a close family friend of Mr Stanley, and praised the influence he had on the national political scene and on her career.

She said: “His role in bringing the Labour Party to a position of electability should not be underestimated, for without the support of Bryan and a handful of other general secretaries, Neil Kinnock would never have won the battle and Tony Blair would never have been elected.

“So many of us in the Labour Party owe so much to him, me in particular.

“I will never forget the support and encouragement he gave to me as a young member of the Labour Party and all he did to help me when seeking selection as a parliamentary candidate.”