Community: The Union for Life

 

A retirement function was held in August for ex-Community President David Worgan. David has always been an extremely popular and dedicated member of the union, and his retirement function was very well attended as expected. The event took place in the Sports Club on Port Talbot Works, and Corus kindly funded a buffet for all those present.

Nigel Bowden, who has taken over from Dai as Abbey 4 Branch Secretary and who organised the event, said: “The event was a great success, it was so pleasing that people were prepared to travel from all over the country to wish Dai well. He will be missed. I worked alongside Dai for many years, both as a crane driver and as a trade union rep. It was a pleasure to work with him, as he was an exceptional person, and an outstanding trade union official.”

 David joined the union (then BISAKTA) in 1967, but left the steel industry in1969, before returning and rejoining the union (which had become the ISTC) in 1972. David has been an active and committed member ever since, being elected to his Branch Committee in 1979. He was Branch Secretary of Abbey 4 branch from 1992 up until his recent retirement, and was a member of Community’s Executive Council from 2000 to 2007. David was Community President in 2006, and has been one of the driving forces behind the development of Communitas, the education and training arm of the union.

Dai said: “I was always fiercely proud of my union and all it stood for, and I truly believe that the leadership is taking the organization in the right direction, creating a vibrant, caring union for the community in the 21^st century. I look forward in my retirement to when the union reaches its centenary in 2017.”

Regional Secretary Steve McCool commented: “Dai was a stalwart of the union at Port Talbot who had great pride in being a member and official of Abbey 4 branch and who put the needs of his branch before his own. Dai was always the voice of reason.”