Champion for unions, Porirua
New Zealand’s most well-known trade union leader, Ken Douglas, aged 86, has died.
Known as ‘‘Red Ken’’, Douglas led the union movement from 1979 to 1999, first as the Federation of Labour secretary, then as the inaugural president of the Council of Trade Unions. He also served six terms as a Porirua councillor.
Douglas went from being a high-profile communist to a much-loved figure who was a board member of the New Zealand Rugby Union. As the leader of the Socialist Unity Party, Douglas was the target of anti-union vitriol from former prime minister Robert Muldoon.
He played a prominent role in the union movement, not only in this country but around the world, including roles as president of both the Asia-Pacific Regional Organisation of the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions and the International Centre for Trade Union Rights.
During the Cold War he remained a supporter of the Soviet Union and politically was an internationalist.
As the leader of the Socialist Unity Party in the 1970s and 1980s, he stood for Parliament in the safe Labour seat of Porirua three times. His best result was 70 votes.
Acting Prime Minister Grant Robertson described Douglas as ‘‘a stalwart’’ of the trade union movement.
‘‘He never wavered from his support of working people and commitment to their rights and successes.’’
Robertson said Douglas was ‘‘very community-minded’’ and was an active member of sports clubs over many decades in Tītahi Bay.
‘‘He remained active in community affairs where his values of service to others shone through. He will be greatly missed.’’
Porirua mayor Anita Baker said it was an honour to know Douglas and, along with golfer Michael Campbell, he was Porirua’s most well-known resident.
Elected to the council in 1998, Douglas served six terms and was a highly regarded and effective councillor.
‘‘He was just fantastic around the council table ... he was completely red but everything he did, he did for the good of the Porirua community.’’
In later life Douglas’ views modified. He spent nine years on the Capital & Coast District Health Board from 2001 and was a sought-after company director.
His roles included terms on the boards of Air New Zealand, New Zealand Post and New Zealand Trade and Enterprise.
In 1998, he received New Zealand’s highest honour, a membership of the Order of New Zealand – limited to 20 living New Zealanders.
Douglas had a long association with sport and was a member of the Tītahi Golf Club and Porirua Softball Club.
He was also amember of the Tītahi Bay Rugby Club (now Northern United), as a player, coach and a member of the management committee.
As president of the Tītahi Bay Golf Club for 30 years, he was proud of his relationship with Campbell.
‘‘Every time I see Michael Campbell play golf, whether he plays good or bad, I think about seeing him as a boy and what he grew up to be,’’ he said in a 2007 Listener interview.