UNI mourns passing of Japanese trade unionist Satoru Tabusa
Satoru joined Zentei after completing his University Education in Sheffield UK. He first became involved in International Affairs when he travelled with Zentei delegations to meetings of the former Postal Telegraph and Telephone International PTTI . Although in those early days he frequently acted as an interpreter for the groups it quickly became obvious to everyone who met him that he had a future in the in the labour movement.
In a very short time he took up a post as education officer in the PTTI Asia and Pacific Region. In this role at PTTI he worked with postal and telecom unions throughout the region.
Again his qualities were recognised and when the Public Service International was reorganising itself. Having moved from Brussels to Ferney Voltaire, he was invited in 1985 to work for PSI in Ferney with responsibility for activities of the International in Asia. He stayed with PSI for some four years before moving on to the ILO where over the years he held numerous positions and finally was Head of Policy and Admin in the ILO's Human Resources Department.
Philip Bowyer, UNI Global Union Deputy General Secretary, said Satoru was an exceptional man.
"When we first met many years ago at a meeting in Brussels we discovered we had in common numerous things from an admiration for the historical writings of E P Thompson to some rather strange types of music which might not be to everyone's taste," Bowyer said. "When I was elected General Secretary of the PTTI in 1989 he was the first person to whom I offered a job. Unfortunately having just moved to the ILO he felt unable to accept the offer. I always regretted that because he was a good trade unionist and would have been a great asset to the International. He was intelligent, diplomatic and dedicated to the ideals of the free trade union movement. But he went on to make an important contribution to the ILO. And importantly he always remained a friend even if we saw less of each other when he worked at the ILO."
It was a great shock to learn of his death at the end of a two year struggle against cancer, Bowyer said.
UNI General Secretary Philip Jennings and Philip Bowyer attended his funeral in Geneva.
Our sympathy and condolences go to his family, friends and many colleagues throughout the world.