Vale Peter Cook, a union man utterly devoted to improving the lives of working people both nationally and internationally says ACTU President Sharan Burrow…
Peter Cook’s union involvement began in 1967 with the Federated Clerks Union in South Australian. In the 1970s, he became involved with the Building Workers Industrial Union, the Miscellaneous Workers Union and the Builders Labourers Federation in Western Australia.
In 1975, Peter was elected secretary of the WA Trades and Labor Council, and a Vice-President of the ACTU in September 1981. Entering federal politics in 1983, he joined the Hawke ministry in 1988 as resources minister and followed with several portfolios, including industrial relations memorable are is his role in the Accord and the legislating of enterprise bargaining – science and, of course, notably, trade.
Passionate, feisty and dedicated to action: human rights, industrial relations, industry policy, trade, all part of a rich array of intervention strategies which Peter brought to bear on critical issues.
We salute Peters magnificent contribution through the union movement and the Labor Party and we will miss both the robust discussion and the wise counsel from this greatly respected and much loved comrade.
Our sincere condolences to Barbara and family
Sharan Burrow
ACTU PRESIDENT
