A Spanish Civil War Scrapbook: Elizabeth Pearl Bickerstaffe
It’s vital that future generations learn the lessons of what happened in Spain Foreword by Rodney Bickerstaffe to ‘A Spanish Civil War Scrapbook: Elizabeth Pearl Bickerstaffe’s...
Author: RBArchive
National Minumum Wage
Introduction The introduction of a National Minimum Wage (NMW) law had, for many years, been central to NUPE’s argument for an effective trade union strategy...
Beyond UNISON
Rodney shocked many colleagues and friends when announcing his intention to retire from the General Secretaryship at the end of 2000. However, it wasn’t so...
Towards a New Union
The perception by the leadership that a union for all public sector workers was desirable was shared by much of the rank and file. Motions...
General Secretary in Action
Rodney said he believed in a form of hierarchy but only to ensure things got done. He gave his officers at both national and regional...
Appointing a New General Secretary
An interesting footnote to this section suggests itself from the 1968 Report by the Executive Council to National Conference. The announcement is recorded that Sydney...
Trainee to Head Office
Following his mum’s letter to Sydney Hill and an exchange of letters with the General Secretary, in which Rodney said “I would be happy to...
The Making of a Trade Unionist
Born on the 6th April 1945 as the Second World War was coming to an end Rodney could hardly have become anything other than an...
Tribute from Tom Sawyer – video
A personal tribute to Rodney Bickerstaffe “Bick” (1945-2017), General Secretary of NUPE and UNISON presented by Tom Sawyer, long time colleague and friend. Presented to...
UNISON video tribute to Rodney Bickerstaffe
A tribute film produced by UNISON for the memorial event on 12 April 2018 at Central Hall Westminster, London.