VIC: CFMEU pays tribute to union giant, Norm Gallagher

AAP General News (Australia)
08-26-1999
VIC: CFMEU pays tribute to union giant, Norm Gallagher

MELBOURNE, Aug 26 AAP - The late boss of the notorious Builders' Labourers Federation, Norm
Gallagher, was a giant of the union movement, the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy
Union (CFMEU) said today.

The former BLF secretary died in a Melbourne hospital last night, aged 67.

He was jailed and the BLF was deregistered after a Royal Commission into the union's
activities uncovered more than $150,000 worth of gifts to Mr Gallagher and his organisers.

After a short term in Pentridge, Mr Gallagher was still defiant, saying he had been set up.

Many BLF members later joined the CFMEU, which today said it was important to recognise Mr
Gallagher's "powerful contribution to the lives of working people in the building industry."

"In a career of 30 years he typified the old BLF motto, 'Dare to Struggle, Dare to Win' and
in so doing transformed the Builders' Labourers Federation from a struggling organisation to a
powerful fighting unit which contributed to many advances for builders labourers across the
country," the CFMEU said in a statement.

"Norm Gallagher helped lift the heads of a group working people who had very often treated
as third class citizens by employers and governments.

"The fighting spirit that Norm helped create lives on in the militant, disciplined and
united organisation that the CFMEU is today."

The union offered its condolences to his children, Sharon and Wayne.

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KEYWORD: GALLAGHER CFMEU

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