02 February 2018 2:32pm
The union movement is mourning the sudden death in Sydney yesterday of veteran communicator and activist, Andrew Casey.
Casey liked to joke about his "Irish" background, with his surname once prompting a warm welcome during a journalistic visit to the Irish Parliament, the Dail.
In truth, he arrived in Australia as a refugee from Hungary as a small child in the 1950s – and would later say that he had people smugglers to thank for his life in a new country.
Casey joined his first union when he worked as a boilermaker's assistant at the then Cockatoo Island Dockyard in Sydney Harbour during the Vietnam War, a time when union activists were under close official scrutiny for their links to the peace movement.
He later worked as an industrial reporter, political editor and foreign correspondent for Fairfax Media, and was a committed member of the former Australian Journalists' Association and its successor, the MEAA.
He then worked for almost a decade as a media officer at the ACTU under the leadership of secretary Bill Kelty during the Accord era, as well as filling various communication roles at the CFMEU, the LHMU (now United Voice), the AWU and the ANMF.
Casey was one of the original correspondents and editors of the global union news portal LabourStart, and closely followed union activity around the world.
The ACTU said today that Casey's work "laid the foundations for the online component of the strong campaigning culture that exists within the Australian union movement".
Apart from being a founding editor of LabourStart, Casey ran the first Australian email campaign for a better deal for workers at Sydney's Hilton Hotel during his time at the LHMU.
"Andrew's contribution to the lives of working people in this country, his tireless energy and his guidance for young unionists and reporters will be sorely missed," she said.
"Andrew was the kind of unionist we all aspire to be – he lived union values every day, giving his experience, his wisdom and his time to improve the lives of working Australians.
"He was principled, compassionate and generous.
"He was an elder statesman, a moral barometer and an active and vigorous campaigner for the length of his life."
Opposition leader Bill Shorten, who worked alongside Casey at the AWU in 2007, tweeted that "he was one of the best...brilliant, passionate and a relentless champion for the rights of working people".
MEAA media section president Marcus Strom said Casey already had a fine record as a newspaper journalist before becoming a pioneer of modern union communications.
"He was passionate about preserving good industrial relations reporting, and was the driving force behind the establishment of the Walkley Award for workplace journalism," said Strom.
"He will be sorely missed."
On his OzLabourStart Twitter account, Casey described himself as "Solidarity, decency, equality. Values informed by Yid background. Salaam/Shalom. I support Israel AND Palestine".
An enthusiastic social media campaigner, Casey tweeted more than 40,000 times in less than 10 years after embracing the platform as a communications tool in 2008.
However, perhaps Casey's biggest strengths as a communicator came from listening intently, plus his personal and institutional knowledge of workplace relations.
He was a passionate campaigner for broader social justice causes, particularly in the areas of asylum seeking and human rights.
He is survived by his brother, son and daughter.
Andrew Casey of @labourstart died suddenly yesterday. Andrew was journalist and worked at @unionsaustralia in the early 90s. This is devastating news for all his comrades. Andrew was throughly generous, kind and a true comrade. A good friend to me. Vale. pic.twitter.com/2HV07lCwEm
— Sally McManus (@sallymcmanus) 1 February 2018
Andrew Casey was one of the best. Brilliant, passionate and a relentless champion for the rights of working people. The AWU and Australia are better because of him. Love and condolences to his family.
— Bill Shorten (@billshortenmp) February 2, 2018
Our comrade and friend Andrew Casey has suddenly passed away. A full obituary coming tomorrow. May his memory be blessed. pic.twitter.com/yEmQocVupQ
— LabourStart (@labourstart) 1 February 2018
The international labour movement has lost one of its finest communicators, activists and agitators, with the passing of Andrew Casey.
— AWU (@AWUnion) 2 February 2018
We have also lost a thoroughly decent human being and dear friend.
Vale Andrew Casey pic.twitter.com/R5mfu6hWwS
Vale Andrew Casey. Shocking, sad news. A good man, a great comrade. https://t.co/gcBcwitFAh
— Nadine Flood (@NadineFloodCPSU) 1 February 2018
Still processing the news about Andrew Casey. Stalwart of our union. Mentor to so many in the labour movement. Kind and generous human being. A loss we can so ill afford.
— Paul Murphy (@thegreenmurphy) 1 February 2018
Andrew Casey was one of the finest human beings I ever worked with and his impact on the labour movement should not be underestimated. He was one of the most hardworking, tenacious, lovable and even at times frustrating people in my team when I was at the AWU I will miss him.
— Paul Howes (@howespaul) 1 February 2018
So sorry to hear about Andrew Casey comrade, buddy, mate, friend, Mentor in Jewish life, refugee, passionate... https://t.co/dOrHb8G4dX
— Tim Harcourt (@TimHarcourt) 1 February 2018
So sorry to learn that #journalist Andrew Casey suddenly died. Compassionate, open minded & generous https://t.co/dgxINruXag
— Wendy Bacon (@Wendy_Bacon) 1 February 2018
Awful news. RIP Andrew Casey. https://t.co/MFZDuPcamj
— Josh Bornstein (@JoshBBornstein) 1 February 2018
AILD mourns the passing of Comrade Andrew Casey, refugee from Soviet oppression, proud Australian & proud Jew, longtime & passionate union activist, and supporter of Labor in Israel. May his memory be a blessing. pic.twitter.com/5CMIgj4Cff
— AILD (@LaborDialogue) 1 February 2018
Across generations of the labour movement and nations of the world there will be mourning today.
— Ben Davison (@ClubeGaffer) 1 February 2018
Kind, generous, genuine, driven by his values and committed to justice; that was Andrew Casey as I knew him from the day we met till the day he passed.
Vale https://t.co/VLJAGITPNT
Vale Andrew Casey, journalist, unionist, activist, lifelong AJA/MEAA stalwart & proud refugee. We will miss you, comrade. RIP
— MEAA (@withMEAA) 1 February 2018
This is tragic news. Andrew was a true champion for #publiceducation and fought tirelessly for equality and fairness. Vale Andrew Casey @davidheth https://t.co/6rl31bZqYB
— Public Ed Foundation (@PEFOZ) 1 February 2018