Bernie so deserving

WITH reference to “Luthuli award for Bernickow” (Cape Times, April 23).

It is extremely pleasing to see that Ronald Bernickow is finally being recognised for the fantastic work that he did both in the trade union movement and in government services thereafter.

Despite my political differences with Bernie, and despite our vastly different backgrounds, we became firm friends. The nature of Bernie was such that he gave everyone the time of day and listened carefully to arguments on both sides of a debate before pronouncing on it.

During the many years of wage negotiations, my interaction with “trade unionist Ronald Bernickow” was always fruitful and successful.

Bernie managed to avert hundreds of strikes and always saw the bigger picture in disputes of this nature.

When “Commissioner Ronald Bernickowz” was appointed at the CCMA, he carried with him a golden thread of fairness and understanding despite his natural and very strong feelings for the worker.

When representing employers at the CCMA, I was always relieved to see that our arbitrator would be Commissioner Bernickow, as his understanding of the workplace from both points of view was unique.

When Commissioner Bernickow was appointed to head up the CCMA of the Western Cape, he took the administration to great heights, thereby leaving a legacy of a fantastic organisation.

Commissioner Bernickow’s successors have had the benefit of standing on the shoulders of a giant.

I wish his family everything of the best, as they deserve to treasure Ronald Bernickow’s memory with the benefit of the rest of the country honouring him by giving him the National Order of Luthuli. Michael Bagraim DA Labour spokesperson