{"id":278282,"date":"2020-09-24T12:53:52","date_gmt":"2020-09-24T02:53:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=278282"},"modified":"2020-09-24T12:53:52","modified_gmt":"2020-09-24T02:53:52","slug":"union-movement-mourns-simmo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2020\/09\/24\/union-movement-mourns-simmo\/","title":{"rendered":"Union Movement Mourns ‘Simmo’"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>
Former ETU secretary Peter Simpson (Photo: ETU)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

September 24, 2020<\/strong><\/p>\n

The death of Peter Simpson – former secretary of the\u00a0Electrical Trades Union Qld and NT branch – from melanoma was announced on Thursday.<\/p>\n

Mr Simpson would be best remembered in the South Burnett for spearheading the Not4Sale campaign against the proposed privatisation of public assets, including local power stations.<\/p>\n

He served as secretary of the ETU from 2009 until\u00a0June 2016 when he announced his resignation after being diagnosed with terminal melanoma.<\/p>\n

ETU State Secretary Peter Ong said “Simmo” would be remembered for his commitment to the value of a “fair go”.<\/p>\n

\u201cSimmo stood up for our members and all Queenslanders and their future when he campaigned against privatisation of public assets, he was a warrior for the working class and will be greatly missed by our union family,\u201d Mr Ong said.<\/p>\n

ETU State Assistant Secretary Stuart Traill said Mr Simpson would be remembered for his unyielding commitment to leave the place better than he found it.<\/p>\n

\u201cSimmo was never afraid to stand up and be counted on issues some see as not union business. He campaigned hard against the nuclear industry, he was a champion for Indigenous rights and despised discrimination and warned against the rise of white supremacy. He was a comrade and a friend.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mr Simpson grew up in the NSW country town of Harden.<\/p>\n

He joined the electricity industry as a 17-year-old apprentice trainee linesman with the South West County Council in Young.<\/p>\n

After moving to Queensland, he became an overhead linesman at SEQEB.<\/p>\n

ACTU secretary Sally McManus said the trade union movement was mourning the death.<\/strong><\/p>\n

“Simmo was the best of what unionism is. Committed to the progress of working people and their right to a better life; willing to stand up for the values he held so dearly. Always up for the fight,” Ms McManus said.<\/p>\n

“He was principled and respected, a deft strategist and an incredibly tough fighter.<\/p>\n

“Simmo understood that everything the working class had gained over generations was a result of years of struggle and solidarity, and he committed himself wholly to the movement\u2019s aim of improving the lives of working people.”<\/p>\n

Mr Simpson is survived by his mother, his wife Penny, their children, and grandchildren.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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