Good Bye Helen Kelly
Helen Kelly was one of the very strong trade union leader from NZCTU. She was born into a trade union family on September 19, 1964 in Wellington, New Zealand. She obtained her first teaching job in 1988. She was soon elected a representative of NZEI, the primary school teachers’ union. In 1990 she obtained her first paid union position working half time with the Kindergarten Association and half time with the Early Childhood Workers Union. She never gave up the fight.
After serving a term as Vice President of the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions she was elected as the peak union organization’s first woman President in 2008. While she was diagnosed Lung Cancer and struggled with the illness, she stood down as President of the NZCTU, which finally overcame her on October 14, 2016.
Her contribution to the political discourse in New Zealand was such that a full parliamentary debate took place following her death, where the leaders of every political party paid tribute to her vigorous defense of the working people of her country as Change Maker.
Friday October 28 at the Michael Fowler Centre, the public farewell for the late inspirational trade unionist was take place. Wellington mayor said in the funeral that “Helen Kelly was an outstanding woman. She always fought on behalf of people who needed a voice, was hugely principled, always put other people’s interests ahead of her own and never compromised on her convictions.”
Helen became a member of the Governing Body in 2011 with a sense of purpose. She wanted to get things done, not stop things happening. She respected the tripartite nature of this institution. ILO GB paid tribute to her with adopting a obituary on November 1, 2016, where the Luc Cortebeeck, the workers Vice-chair and DG of ILO, Guy Ryder memorized her contribution. All other constituents as well paid tribute.
I met Helen Kelly first in 2009, while, I was visiting New Zealand and maximizing time to visit NZCTU office in Wellington. It was already good inspiration to meet woman chair of the trade union confederation, which is ra
re in Asian context. Later, while we both became member of the ILO-GB in 2011. We regularly met. She was always very passionate, sympathetic and supportive. She was really following the Sharan Burrow path and always used to say Sharan is the role model for her as hero of the trade union. In fact, she left back with us the heroic memory and inspiration.
Respecting her Contribution and Keeping Good Memory, her place in the GB meeting has been represented with WHILE ROSE for this time.
Good Bye HELEN Forever!
Nov 1, 2016, Geneva