Date: 26 January 2012
Marge Carey MBE, Usdaw President from 1997 to 2006, sadly passed away on 23 January 2012.
Marge joined Usdaw in
1972 and was appointed to the organising staff in 1978. She
was promoted to Divisional Officer in February 1990. She was then
elected President in 1997 and was re-elected again in 2000 and
2003. She was awarded the MBE in 1998 for her services to
industrial relations and held a number of senior positions in the
Labour Party and TUC. She retired from the Union's staff in October
2001 after 23 years' service.
General Secretary John
Hannett paid tribute to his long time friend.
"Marge has a record second
to none. She carried out her role as president with the authority
to command respect from activists, the membership and the Union's
staff with her impartiality and her ability to understand the
members' issues. I have lost count of the number of Union Activists
who have personally paid tribute to her.
"Her skill at chairing the
ADM and EC meetings was an extremely important factor and she
understood fully what was required of her presidential role.
"Marge was an inspiration to
Union Activists and carried out all her roles with honesty and
integrity.
"Marge may have been small in stature but she made a big
impression on both Usdaw and the labour movement and she will be
missed by the many hundreds of people whose lives she touched."
Messages of condolence will be posted on this page - you
can send your
message online.
Rest in peace
Marge.
love Angela Terry Alicia and of cause ollie x
Will really miss
you marge my friend and neighbour who will i go to now for advice.
R I P.
E. Bailey
I have heard
that Marge Carey has passed away. She was a great woman and will be
greatly missed in the labour movement. Please accept my condolences
and those of our union members.
St Helens College
We knew Marg as
a very valuable member of Huyton & Prescot golf club, her sense
of humour prevailed to the end. She will be sadly missed.
J & R Lynch
Marge was a true
trade unionist she was a little lady who cast a giant shadow. We in
the pools have fond memories of the good and bad times in the
pools, how she kept the branch together through the fight against
the lottery, the support and leadership was second to none. She was
a true friend to the pools. I feel so proud to have called her a
friend. Rest in peace Marge.
K. Davies
Will be sadly
missed by all who knew her at Huyton & Prescot Golf Club.
Huyton & Prescot Golf Club
I was a
colleague and close friend of Marge Carey for almost 40 years and
never met a more impressive woman. She was a dedicated official who
loved Usdaw and cared deeply for her members. Having met her first
when she was a bolshie Shop Steward at Vernons Pools, Liverpool and
seen her progression as Area Organiser - then promoted to the
position of Divisional Officer for the North Western Division where
she brought the division into national prominence. Finally to her
election as President - a role she performed for 9 years with
integrity and professionalism.
We both served
on the TUC General Council where she was both liked and respected
and she took on many positions in The Labour Party, including the
important Conference Arrangements Committee. She was highly
regarded throughout the Labour Movement and wherever she went she
enhanced the reputation of Usdaw. A champion for Women's rights
without being a tick box feminist.
Rest in peace
dear friend and your memory will live on in Usdaw forever.
B. Connor
I have known her
and worked with her for over 20 years. She demanded, deserved and
got a lot of respect. When I think about the training stuff we did
together, we worked hard but there was always time for humour. I am
sad at her passing but she leaves me with a lot of fond
memories.
D. McMonnies, Head of Merseyside Trade Union Education
Unit
A great lady, we
sat together on the TUC General Council and we had fun together.
What a fighter for working people, a brilliant ambassador for
Usdaw.
Jeannie (Baroness Drake)
I have just
learnt about the sad death of Marge Carey and would like to send my
condolences to her family and friends. I first met Marge in 1995
when I was a Shop Steward and sat on the Divisional Council in the
South West. She was a real trade unionist and many peoples life's
have been enhanced and made better because of her hard work and
perseverance. She also had a brilliant sense of humour, but never
shirked responsibility.
The world will
be a sadder place without her. But she is most probably up above
making sure that H&S regulations are being abided by and that
the National Minimum Wage is being paid!!!
Rest in peace
Marge.
B. Denning
Marge was my
friend and colleague for over 30 years. She inspired thousands of
women activists and we worked together in the '80s to train women
reps to get the skills and confidence to get on in the union-Marge
wasn't a gatekeeper ,she was generous and wanted to open the
doors so that as many women as possible could make their mark.
She was a grafter, a fighter, confident in her opinions and firm in
her beliefs. She was a great laugh too and dedicated to Jacqui and
Vic-she adored them.
I was so pleased
to be able to meet up with her over the last couple of years when
she was so courageous, always with a comment about the politics of
the day and just as interested in her beloved Usdaw.
L. Smith
In 1974 I met a
young lady called Marge Carey, who as an Area Organiser introduced
myself and my work colleague to Usdaw. She set up what was then B50
Branch and as we went from strength to strength so did Marge.
She proved by
example that through hard work and dedication any member can rise
through our ranks to the top job. She worked tirelessly at
promoting Usdaw and soon became our Divisional Officer and
eventually President, a position she held until her retirement
after which the Branch duly endorsed her as our Chair.
To me she was
one of Usdaw's brightest lights and although that light has now
gone she will be remembered with fondness and respect.
M. Baxter, K050.