RESPECTED TRADE UNIONIST ALEX GALLACHER DIES AFTER

A tribute to a colleague & a friend who worked hard & fought with all the muster

away the best prize that life has to offer is the chance to work hard at work worth doing”. “Alex did that,” Labor leader Anthony Albanese said in a tribute to Alex in the House of Representatives.

Alex was a staunch advocate for transport workers. He fought tirelessly for truck drivers to receive Safe Rates of pay and conditions, and was no doubt proud to have been part of the Senate’s landmark report into the road transport industry tabled in August. Alex was dogged in his determination to see improvements to the industry that kept Australia moving.

Former truck driver and trade unionist, come SA Labor Senator Alex Gallacher died on Sunday the 30th of August after an almost two-year battle with lung cancer.

Dedicating his life to working people, Senator Gallacher, was born in Scotland on the first day of 1954 and was first elected to the Senate in 2010.

In 1966 Gallacher migrated with his family to Australia at the age of 12. He worked as a labourer, truck driver and ramp services operator for airline TAA before joining the TWU as an industrial relations officer in 1988.

He became secretary and treasurer of the union’s SA/NT branch in 1996, and also served as national vice-president in 2006, becoming president in 2007.

“There’s no smoke and mirrors, just plain talking, hardworking employees and employers alike, in a tough competitive industry that works harder than most people imagine and continues to work while most people are asleep,” Senator Gallacher said of the transport industry in his maiden speech.

Senator Gallacher concluded his inaugural speech with a test for his time in Capital Hill. Quoting former US president Theodore Roosevelt, Senator Gallacher said: “Far and

Alex never shied away from a fight, particularly when he saw workers ripped off or mistreated by their employers. Even in poor health, Alex supported aviation workers in their fight against their deplorable treatment last year. Alex was a regular attendee at actions outside Parliament House and always welcomed workers into his office with open arms.