Tributes flow for workers’ champion Helen Kelly

<h4 style&equals;"text-align&colon; left&semi;">Education professionals have joined the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions &lpar;CTU&rpar; to pay tribute to former union boss&comma; Helen Kelly&period; <&sol;h4>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"text-align&colon; left&semi;">Ms Kelly&comma; a lifelong campaigner and union member&comma; succumbed to lung cancer last week at the age of 52&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"text-align&colon; left&semi;">Ms Kelly started her career as a primary school teacher at Johnsonville Main School&comma; and was famously appointed a union delegate on her first day&period; She went on to hold senior positions with both the NZEI and the Association of University Staff &lpar;AUS &&num;8211&semi; now known as New Zealand Tertiary Education Union&comma; TEU&rpar;&period; In 2007&comma; she was elected president of the CTU where she worked until resigning in October&comma; 2015&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"text-align&colon; left&semi;">NZEI President Louise Green said the union movement had lost a great leader&comma; but those who knew her personally had also lost a compassionate and courageous friend who continued to fight for a better life for others right to the end of her own&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"text-align&colon; left&semi;">&OpenCurlyDoubleQuote;She was truly someone who made a genuine difference in the lives of countless New Zealanders&period; Her passing is a loss to all of us&comma; but we especially send our love and sympathy to Helen’s husband Steve and her son Dylan&comma;” said Ms Green&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"text-align&colon; left&semi;">CTU president Richard Wagstaff said Ms Kelly lived her commitment to fairness and justice every day&period; &&num;8220&semi;She was generous&comma; creative&comma; innovative&comma; inspired and determined&period; She dreamed big and worked hard – and we’re a better country for her achievements&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"text-align&colon; left&semi;">&&num;8220&semi;People from around the world are now remembering how Helen inspired and empowered them to make their working lives better&period;&&num;8221&semi;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"text-align&colon; left&semi;">Ms Kelly&&num;8217&semi;s public farewell is scheduled for October 28 at the Michael Fowler Centre in Wellington&period; <&sol;p>&NewLine;