
It is with deep regret that our sister, Janina Malinovska, passed away on 7 April 2020 after her battle with a long-standing illness.
Janina has been the assistant secretary of Inland Transport for the best part of ten years, and before that had long been part of the ITF family as an affiliate.
Her contribution to the fight for workers’ rights is well known to us all. Janina had the ability to make sure that we kept our feet on the ground and that we remember what we are all fighting for.
She was a tireless advocate for working people and for the rights of everyone to be treated fairly. She will be sadly missed. Her fight is our fight, and we continue to take that forward as the ITF in her honour.
As has been said, Janina has been a good friend to many of us at the ITF, and we know that this very sad news will touch us all.
All India Railwaymen's Federation (AIRF) Conveys Heartfelt Condolences to her family members, friends and ITF Family. Her loss has created a void that is difficult to fill.
"MAY HER NOBLE SOUL REST IN EVERLASTING PEACE."
I knew Janina in 2003 before both joined ITF. It was Summer school in Port Elgin Canada. Since then she was the same person with high values who dedicated her life to support workers rights. We always talked about the reunion of that group. RIP Janina
Dear Gabrielius, words may not suffice to express the heartfelt sorrow that we feel for the passing of your mother and our colleague. Please accept our deepest condolences.
It a pity that we have lost a great servant and seasoned trade unionist. Janina touch the hearts of very many Transport workers...Fare Thee Well Sister Janina.
I was shocked to hear of Janina's tragic death. She was one of the first ITF staff members to come from former Eastern Europe and (I think) the first from a former Soviet Republic at a time when I, as ITF General Secretary, was very keen to expand the coverage of ITF London staff. She accompanied me on an ITF mission to Poland in October 1993, acting both as a ( non maritime) adviser and as polish interpreter. I had many conversations with her in the evening. One day I asked her why, as a Lithuanian, she spoke such good Polish. She pointed out that her birthplace had been in Poland, under German occupation, and part of the Lithuanian SSR without having moved at all. So she spoke fluent polish from birth but also Lithuanian and Russian and then, in order to do her work as leader of the Lithuanian transport union, extremely good English. It made me feel very inadequate ! I had many great conversations with her about the polish unions and she told me ( afterwards) not just what they had said but whether they were telling the truth! She was so much more than an interpreter. I was very pleased when she applied for a position in the ITF inland transport section and she played a major global role in its development. I haven’t spoken to her much since I retired as GS in 2013, but I will never forget her dedication to international trade union solidarity as well as her dry sense of humour. RIP Janina .
Africa will truly miss our Sister Janina, whose nick name was Mama Fish which made her laugh uncontrollably .
She worked tirelessly with African affiliates and results were always achieved from her hard work, she never complained of the time she put in her work.
Mama Fish, you fought a good fight, you have finished the race, RIP
So sad😢 I met Janina first time back in 2007 or 2008. Always so kind and interested in other unions in the transport sector. I met her last time in Berlin in october 2019. Rest in peace Janina 🌹😢
BTS is saddened by the death of our colleague Janina Malinovska. Needless to say that Janina was a genuine trade union activist to protect and promote the ITF affiliates' rights and also the workers' rights across the world.
BTS offers its sincere condolences to the family and colleagues of Janina as well as the ITF.
Last year, BTS worked with her closely to organise a training in Ankara. She was really helpful throughout the preparatory part and the training.
The whole BTS family, as in the case of ITF, shall remember her with full respect.
BTS executive committee
Turkey
Rest In Peace sister Yiannina.
Oooh, So So sorry Janina!
It is with deep regrets and sorrowful to hear the news of your passing. I remember you on a couple of workshops where we met, and your calm unassuming personality, and how you easily relates well when I interacted, hmmmmm.
But no one knew you were going so soon to your maker,
Janina, we wish you safe journey home and to your maker, and may your soul rest in perfect peace, Amen!
God wanted his brightest star back, so he took Janina away from us
We really will miss her
R.I.P. Janina
Shocking News.We lost a tireless advocate of working class. I on behalf of Indian National Transport Workers Federation (I N T W F) Conveys Heartfelt Condolences to her family members, friends and ITF Family.
"MAY HER NOBLE SOUL REST IN PEACE."
I see me standing with Janina at a piket line of Agility workers in Kenya where we both addressed the workers. I remember her explaining me how she worked in the Baltic region organising truck drivers. Lately we walked together to a meeting in Stockholm when she told me about passed experiences working at the NTF office. She was so happy to become part of our Central and Eastern Europe joint project of ITF/ETF. She had a lifetime engagement in international trade unionism and was willing to share her know-how. We had so many hard working but also nice moments together with brothers and sisters in ITF/ETF.
Janina, your passing away is such a shock for me, for all of us. We will miss you, but we will also remember you.
Road transport workers worldwide have lost an advocate, comrade and fighter for social justice. We extend our sympathies to Janina's family, friends and all who were touched by her warmth, wit and voice for solidarity.
Deepest condolences to Janina’s family, friends & associates she worked tirelessly for a movement she believed in and left us all in a better place. Solidarity R.I.P
Janina was the wisdom, help and support of our Lithuanian Carriers‘ Trade Union, there are no words to express a loss...
Heartfelt condolence
I first met Janina in 2003 in Canada and we became friends. We met regularly in London and Brussels. It was always a great pleasure. She was very sensitive to friendship, justice, fairness and especially the cause of workers in companies. She will be missed.
I wish family and colleagues strength.
It is very sad to lose one of us, a fighter for equality and justice
My sincere condolences to the family.
So sad ! What a loss for her family and for the ITF family, Janina was a warm person and a great trade union activist, she will always be missed ! On behalf of the BTB Section Ports our sincere condolences ! RIP Sister Janina
Rest In Peace dear sister Giannina
With a feeling of deep sadness, we - Russian Trade Union of Railwaymen and transport construction workers learned that Yanina Malinovska, the Assistant Secretary of Inland Transport, had passed away. For many years, cooperation and friendship linked our Trade Union and Janina. The contribution of Janina Malinovska to the ITF and to the railway section particularly is difficult to overestimate. We will remember her as an experienced and responsible specialist and friendly person.
The professionalism of Janina was also well recognized by the trade unions of the CIS countries. Janina had been working effectively and closely with Russia and CIS countries for more than 10 years. Janina was not just a colleague, but also a big friend for all of us.
I express my sincere condolences tothe ITF, all her colleagues, family, relatives and friends.
Heartfelt condolence,
I have no words to express a loss...
С глубоким прискорбием восприняли известие о кончине нашей сестры уважаемой Янины Малиновский!
Онв была прекрасная умная и добрая женщина! Настоящий друг и товарищ.
Она всегда с радостью готова была помочь при обращению к ней по всем вопросам касающимся профсоюзной деятельности и не только. Вечная ей память! Глубокие соболезнования родным и близким а также всему руководству МФТ!
От имени профсоюза Роберт Мазитов.
I'll never forget interesting conversation about workers rights and future perspectives. We have lost a fighter, a colleague, a friend. We'll do our best for carrying on the job done together.
Sending our deepest condolences to the Malinovska family and our friends of the ITF. In solidarity.
My sincere condolences to the family!
Rest in peace, Janina!
Trade Union of Kazakhstan Transport Workers (QKKO) with great sadness received the news of unfortunate loss of Janina Malinovska - our sister and good friend of our trade union.
Janina made a huge assistance in joining of QKKO to ITF. Thanks to Janina we could build good communications and establish a strong foundation of partnership with ITF. We did carry out multiple joint seminars. One of them, the U2U, which we should have done this year.
We mourn and convey our sincere condolences to family and friends of Janina Malinovska. RIP
Sad of times to learn of the passing of Sister Janina. An all weather friend of all times. Rest in power Sister!
My dear Janina,
I was shocked to hear the news of your passing. I remember many of the workshops we met and immediately clicked on.
I met you as a great unionist, but also as a caring mother.
You have a very good understanding of the specific problems in our part of Europe.
When I met you somewhere in the world it was like meeting someone of mine.
You were happy to hear my kids grow up so do I when hear your son grow up.
Rest in peace my dear.
My deepest condolences to your son, to your family and to the whole ITF family.
Heavy news. Janina has done a lot to promote ITF policy in the post-Soviet railway workers' unions and has become a close person to all of us. Since the beginning of cooperation between ITF and ITUCRW in 2013 and in the latest WhatsApp reports in March, she has always been both a professional and a friend.
On behalf of the International Confederation of Railway Workers' Unions (ITUCRW), I express my sincere condolences to her family, friends and the ITF family.
Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator
SLT is deeply saddened by the news. We knew her as a warm person,great colleague,with vast experience and dedicated to her work. Our sincere condolences to her family. May she rest in peace!
Rest in peace Sister , condolences to Janina's family
You will always be in my heart and in my thoughts .. you believed in me, when few people imagined that I could contribute to the union movement. Rest in peace...
Dionísio, mozambique
Janina was a great solider for the socialists movement and had calm about her to focus on the real issues facing the working class, she will be greatly missed, RIP sister we will not let the flame you lit dim in anyway.
Dear ITF Family,
It is with great sadness that we have learned of the death of Janina Malinovska, ITF Assistant Secretary for Inland Transport, on April 7. The Korean Public Service and Transport Workers’ Union (KPTU), Korean Railway Workers’ Union (KRWU) and Korean Rail and Metro Unions Council (KRMU) send our heartfelt condolences to her family and the entire ITF community.
Janina’s work to bring rail unions together in the fight against privatisation and liberalisation was of deep importance to rail workers in South Korea and around the world. We are deeply grateful for and will never forget her support for the struggle of Korean railway workers to defend trade union rights and the public rail.
We also deeply appreciated Janina’s support for our efforts to strengthen the solidarity among East Asian and Eurasian rail workers in their collective efforts towards the realisation of peace and labour rights. We were looking forward to working with her to build a taskforce on integration of the Korean and Eurasian railways this year. We promise to continue to carry out this work in Janina’s memory.
In solidarity,
Junsik Choi
President
Korean Public Services and Transport Workers’ Union
Sangsu Jo
President
Korean Railway Workers’ Union
Chairperson
Korean Rail & Metro Unions’ Council
Rest In Peace Comrade Janina. The Kamaggfi Transport Group where the Philippine Railway Union is a member expresses our sadness to your leaving. We wish you had stayed longer to help more of transport workers.
So sad to hear this sad news she was a lovely person, always smiling. My condolences to her family a sad loss
Janina Malinowska was a partner of our organization, a supporter and a member of a large family.
She made a great contribution to the development and integration of both international (ITF) and European (ETF) trade union organizations as well as railway workers trade unions International Confederation.
Team of the "Trade Union of Georgian Railwayman" is very sorry about the Janinas death.
I have no words to say how I feel. Janina always had words of encouragement for me when we met. I always admired her passion for what is right and good and for finding a way. I had expected to meet her again. My deepest condolences to her family and to the ITF Family. May she rest in peace and rise in glory.
Heartfelt condolences and wish rest her soul in peace.
От имени Профсоюза железнодорожников и транспортных строителей Украины выражаем искренние соболезнования семье, друзьям, коллегам Янины МАЛИНОВСКОЙ. Это невосполнимая утрата. Мы очень признательны Янине за ее любовь к профсоюзной работе. Проект «U2U», который Янина вела от имени МФТ, является ценным и необычайно полезным опытом для нас. Янина была профессионалом своего дела, большим другом нашей организации.
For and on behalf of Dock Workers Union of Liberia, the Dockers around the world and in my own name we say our deepest condolences to her family and the ITF family's. May her soul rest in peace. Long live the fighting Sprit of ITF and the ITF Women Committee .
RIP
with great humility and great shock,i wish to send my sincere condolences to the entire itf family,and her immediate family for the lost of our beloved sister,the entire Railway workers stand with you at this moment of grieve.may the Almighty comfort us all.Thank you .
Rest in peace and all my solidarity for Janina´s family
I was shocked to hear the news of demise of Sister Janina through ITF circular.I met and knew her from many ITF events for past couple of years.She was kind, gentle, helpful and very determined in her work.She now lives in our memories forever. I offer my condolences to her and pray for God to provide her family with strength in these difficult times.
So sad! I had the privilege to work with Janina for a while in NTF 2010. I have lost a wonderful friend and colleague way to early 😢. My thought are with her family🌹
We at PUTON celebrate the life of our sister Janina whom most of us in Kenya met her in a workshop in Nairobi where she was a facilitator and taught us about organizing informal workers on issues that were deeply and widely felt. Even in death her contributions to the trade union movement will be deeply and widely felt. Shine on your way comrade. Rest peacefully.
So sad to hear about Janinas passing. We last met here in Stockholm in februari making plans as usual. We will take these plans forward in your spirit Janina. My thoughts are with her family.