Union mourns loss of ‘inspirational’ woman
6th February 2012
CWU members have joined family and friends of Linda
Hancock in paying tribute to the former vice-president of
the union, who passed away last week after a short illness.
She started work at Kirkcaldy Telephone Exchange back in 1969 and
joined Kirkcaldy and District Amal Branch of what was then the
Union of Post Office Workers (UPW) - beginning nearly four decades
of loyal service to the trade union movement.
Linda played an active role within the operator, ancillary,
organisational and occupational committee, a committee which she
went on to chair at national level.
In 2001, Linda was elected vice-president of the CWU's telecoms
and financial services executive and a year later, became
vice-president of the CWU, before retiring a couple of years later.
Longstanding friend and CWU NEC member Joe Malone
said that Linda had been "an inspiration to all of us,
particularly to young women workers, who she always encouraged to
stand up for their rights.
"I'll miss her as friend and comrade, and the union will
miss her too, for all the work she did on behalf of members."
CWU general secretary Billy Hayes
said: "We were all saddened to hear this terrible news,
particularly as her death was so untimely.
"There is no doubt that Linda's contribution to the
affairs of the union will long be remembered."
Linda's funeral service was held last Friday at Kirkcaldy
Crematorium in Fife.
