Tributes have poured into the ITF after the death of Ann Anderson, aged 51.
Born 1 June 1966, Ann died 13 March 2018 after a short illness.
Steve Cotton, ITF general secretary, expressed deep condolences on behalf of the whole ITF family in a letter to Ann's union, the Clerical and Commercial Workers’ Union, Guyana: "Ann will be remembered with immeasurable affection as a woman of principle, energy and action.
"Coming to the fore, first and foremost as an organiser in the Guyana Clerical and Commercial Workers’ Union, she was a prominent participant in the ITF Americas’ regional education programme, and it was her talent and commitment to organising women workers that was recognised when she was first elected to the ITF Women Transport Workers’ Committee at the Vancouver Congress in 2002.
"A member of the ITF global family for over sixteen years, and for a period of time at the helm of your union, Ann contributed consistently to ITF work.
"She unfailingly initiated union programmes that were testimony to her commitment to local and global work. She continued to organise. She not only helped to design ITF’s women’s work, but she then carried it out on the ground, ensuring, for example, that Guyana’s workers always marked International Women’s Day and that they used 25th November to campaign against violence to women ...
"I speak for all my ITF colleagues when I say we are eternally grateful for Ann’s contribution to global trade unionism and that we will always remember her courage, strength, loyalty, friendship, enthusiasm and solidarity with her sisters and brothers worldwide.
"Ann died too young, too soon. However, she left an important legacy. The quality of her leadership over many years translated into better and more secure lives for workers and their families, helping in turn, to build new opportunities and protections today and into the future for a new generation of transport workers. She will be greatly missed."
Paddy Crumlin, ITF president: “Ann was an inspiration to workers everywhere through her tireless struggle for the rights of women and will be sorely missed by the ITF family and all those who knew her ... we pledge to continue her fine work to build a better world for workers."
Michelle Myers, ITF Asia Pacific women’s representative: "Ann will be remembered not only for her work to improve conditions for workers across the world but also for her boundless enthusiasm and a memorable laugh that brightened any room. Vale comrade sister. May you be at peace."
David Cockroft, former ITF general secretary: "Ann was a dynamic, energetic, dedicated woman trade union leader who was definitely the first woman to be elected to lead a union in Guyana and probably in the Caribbean. She is one of the ITF people I was most looking forward to seeing again at the ITF Congress in October and she will be sadly missed by all trade unionists, male and female."
John Mark Mwanika, Amalgamated Transport and General Workers Union, Uganda: "She was a wonderful person, I met her once and we had been in touch since then. I will miss her motherly advice."
Nishi Kapahi, ITF Delhi office: "Ann Anderson fought tirelessly for women in the Carribean region and, of course, for the cause of transport women all over the world. Her laughter still rings in my ears. What a pleasure it had been knowing her and working with her these last two decades. She will be deeply missed."
