GEORGE MCARTHUR - A UNION MAN

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Oration by Bob Thomson at the funeral of George McArthur, Wednesday 26 May 2004, Prestonpans

"Now I’m a union man, Amazed at what I am,
I say what I think That the company stinks,
Yes, I’m a union man.
Before the union did appear, My life was half as clear.
Now I’ve got the power To the working hour
An every other day of the year
Oh you don’t get me I’m part of the union
You don’t get me I’m part of the union
You don’t get me I’m part of the union
Till the day I die, Till the day I die"

These lines are from the song by the Strawbs. I would have sung it, but George always told me I’m a terrible singer, so I’ll defer to him this one last time.

Family, comrades and friends, George McArthur was the epitome of a trade union activist. Yes, he participated at the highest levels, Scottish and UK, in town halls and government offices. However, he never forgot the trade union organisation and power came from the work place. He would regularly finish meetings with "the high heed yins" to cycle around the villages of East Lothian to meet with home helps, school meal providers, refuse and gardening staff.

He understood that whilst policy matters were important, so were the kitchen sink issues like not getting your holidays at the same time as your spouse, or a query about a pay shortage. He gave a complete service to the members he represented.

On leaving school, George started work at David Lowe's nursery here in Prestonpans. I know this, because he often told me so. When staying with him at North Crescent, we would pass the site of the nursery on our nocturnal perambulations back from the Labour Club.

He then got a job with the Health Board, where he learned his gardening craft. For a brief period, he worked in a convent, but I think he was too irreverent for the sisters.

With the assistance of John Wilson, his brother in law, who was the technical manager, he got a job with Lothian Structural Developers, Pylon Makers at Macmerry. George repaid that help by organising the workers into the AEU. Thankfully, the in-laws maintained friendly relations.

Interestingly, George’s connection with the AEU continued for many years after he left Macmerry. He was regularly sent ballot papers for elections. Knowing George, I’m sure he practiced the political activist’s maxim, "vote early and vote often".

After his foray into engineering, George went back to gardening and got a job with East Lothian District Council. He joined NUPE, the National Union of Public Employees and quickly became a steward. East Lothian at that time had many prominent NUPE activists, including John Ostler and Rabbie Donaldson, Tranent branch, Gilbert Risk, North Berwick branch, and Bob Hastie, Musselburgh branch. George learned much from these long-time activists.

The town branches were merged, and George became secretary of East Lothian branch. This covered a wide geographical area and a range of members. Through hard work and diligence, George increased the membership substantially. Woodbine Cottage became the branch HQ and as secretary, whilst George’s handwriting was not the best, his computer skills more than compensated.

In the late 70’s, George became increasingly involved in NUPE at Scottish and UK level. It was then that our paths crossed more and more frequently on committees etc. with George as the senior lay official and myself as the senior officer.

He was elected chairman of NUPE’s Scottish Local Government Committee and a member of the Scottish National Joint Council for Local Authorities. Two issues that he played an important part in at that time were the job evaluation and regarding of 100,000 manual workers, a mammoth task. Also the fight against compulsory competitive tendering, which we largely won but unfortunately has again reared its ugly head under the guise of private finance initiative/public-private partnership.

In 1987, George was elected Scottish Chairman of NUPE, representing some 75,000 members. These were hectic and important times. A Tory government was in power and we had to organise politically.

Also the Tories’ attack on the Trade Unions had shown the need for greater unity and strength. Mergers were in the air. NUPE had long argued for one public services union. Through his own experience in the health service and local government, George supported the merger talks between, COHSE, NALGO and NUPE. Equally important, George wanted to see an end to the inferior conditions for manual workers and appreciate that all being in one union would help eliminate this. There is now a single status agreement in local government, which has largely achieved George’s ambitions.

From 1990 – 1993 George played a leading role in the merger talks. During long, detailed discussions, his openness, patience and good humour helped to forge the structure of UNISON in Scotland. He was instrumental in ensuring that Unison retained an Affiliated Political Fund supporting the Labour Party, this was a red line issue for George. Crucially, he went out and campaigned to win the grass root members for a yes vote.

After the merger, his involvement in UNISON was not as great as he would have liked, but he showed no bitterness or regret.

In retirement, as we all know, George continued to keep himself busy, and involved himself in a whole range of activities.

George and I kept regularly in touch. Occasionally the PANS gang would look out their passports and come through to Glasgow on a Saturday afternoon for the pub jazz, and we would meet up. Just 6 weeks ago, George came to a meeting I had organised in Edinburgh in support of David Martin, MEP. An election in which sadly, George will not be involved.

The union business is not all work and no play. George was a conference aficionado. He was a regular delegate at the 3Bs – Blackpool, Bournemouth and Brighton, where he had his favourite watering holes. He had great expertise at gate-crashing conference freebies, though sometimes he would cadge the invitation of others. I remember in Brighton, at one particular formal cocktail party, they announced the guests and George was introduced as John Home Robertson, MP. He carried it off with aplomb.

Fond, good memories

Then rouse, ye sons of Labour!
Strike hard while yet ye may,
Break down these superstitions
The block the workers’ way
Raise high the crimson banner
That all the world may see
And work for retribution
And the days that are to be

Goodbye, good comrade, goodbye dear friend, we will miss you.

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