Philip Booth
Colleagues will be sorry to learn of the death, earlier this month, of Philip Booth, former Fitter in the Fabric Office and the University’s Branch Secretary of Unison.
Phil joined the University’s Mechanical Maintenance department in June 1980 as an experienced fitter and maintenance engineer. He quickly became involved in union and industrial relations activities, working first as a steward for the NUPE (National Union of Public Employees) and later becoming the University Branch Secretary for Unison. In addition to his full-time role and his union commitments he also, in 1994, completed a Certificate in Industrial Studies through the University’s further education scheme for staff and was active within the Trades Union Congress, with an interest in health and safety matters.
During his time with the University, Phil supported a large number of colleagues through difficulties at work, including representing staff at hearings and during inquiries, and conducting discussions with the University management regarding pay, terms and conditions of employment. He was an honourable man, who held fast to his principles, but with the acuity and imagination to see the other point of view and the patience to broker the best resolution for all parties. His honesty, his sense of fair play, and his ready sense of humour meant that he was well liked at all levels of the University.
After some time spent on secondment to Unison, Phil left the University in early 1999 to take up the offer of a permanent role with the union as a Regional Officer. He will be remembered by his colleagues here with great respect and with great warmth.
The funeral service will be held at 12.20pm on Wednesday 29 April at Cottingley Crematorium, Cottingley Hall, Ring Road, Beeston, LS11 0EU, on which day the flag on the Parkinson Building will be flown at half-mast in Phil’s memory.
Posted in: Obituaries