It is with a heavy heart that we have to let you know that Jon Rogers, who was our branch secretary for 30 years, passed away last night.

Jon was someone who dedicated his life to trade unionism, to representing workers and organising to defend our rights at work. He served on the UNISON NEC for many years and earned the nickname Rulebook Rogers for his encyclopedic knowledge of UNISON’s often complicated rules. He was a life long Labour Party members and active in the left wing organisation the Labour Representation Committee.

He will be greatly missed by a huge number of people across the workers’ movement.

You should read this interview with Jon from last year

about his life https://labourhub.org.uk/2022/03/26/a-foot-soldier-in-the-movement/

You can also get his very entertaining biography he finished shortly before he passed away which will give a very interesting insight into the history of Lambeth Council and UNISON in general.

https://www.kobo.com/gb/en/ebook/an-obscure-footnote-in-trade-union-history

Jon had been sick for a while now with cancer. However he was able to attend the UNISON conference last year in Brighton where he lived where he gave the address to the outgoing president Paul Holmes. All our thoughts are with Hassina Malik his partner who was with him until the end and his children Daniel and Sian as well as all his friends and comrades who loved him.

If you want to send message of condolences please email shannah@lambeth.gov.uk so we can collate them and pass them on.