FAREWELL STARRY

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: june 2021 :: RMTnews 28 I want to start by acknowledging the magnificent contribution that Tony Santamera has made throughout his life in defence of our members, families, communities and our class. As a lifetime socialist, committed trade unionist, Internationalist, humanitarian and anti-fascist he was more commonly known as Tony or even Starry to his close friends and comrades. He was a leading rank and file activist within the National Union of Seamen through the late 60’s, 70’s and 80’s prior to being elected as a full-time officer of the NUS in March 86, involved with many campaigns, disputes, regular attendee at various Branches and BGMs. In 1979, prior to being an FTO, he amongst others arranged for collections and charity nights to be organised in support of those lost at sea on MV Pool Fisher with only two survivors and 13 souls perished. Less than a year later MV Derbyshire went missing during typhoon Orchid presumed to have sunk in the South China Sea with the loss of all 44 on board including two wives. He worked hard to support the formation and continued running of the Liverpool Retired Seafarers Group, which still exists today. As a community activist Tony along with other activists of the Liverpool NUS Shipping Branch, Trades Council and Merseyside Trade Union and Unemployed Centre took part in the People’s March for jobs in 1982. Tony was instrumental in ensuring support from the NUS/RMT was given to other disputes such as steel workers, construction, miners and dockers. During his time working aboard the MV Manx Viking, he ensured that the crews adopted the Bolsover group of mines and each week collections were taken for a fiver a head. This support is acknowledged by way of certificates of appreciation and a replica Davey lamp issued by the group. As the shipboard convenor he was always proud to declare to all, “that not one ounce of coal, not one, was conveyed to the IOM during the 84/85 miner’s strike on the Manx Viking”. He was a founding member and the first elected chairman of the Heysham/Douglas Port Committee. Tony was soon after to be elected as chairman of the National Ferry Port Committee. A committee that was originally set up to ensure greater communication, liaison and networking of activists to share information on the respective gains in terms and conditions, pay and benefits. However, it wasn’t long before the then NUS hierarchy saw the power and might that the committee could wield and the demands that they were making for change within the wider union and that certain officials had done their utmost to prevent meetings being convened. Starry would not tolerate any fly by night chancers who he would suss out quickly but when he saw genuine potential he would seek to encourage, develop and nurture less experienced representatives by passing on his knowledge and experience. FAREWELL STARRY Ken Usher pays tribute to former RMT national secretary Anthony Ramon Santamera