Tributes paid to 'champion of workers' rights' and 'advocate for Derry' Philip Oakes who has died

Mr. Oakes passed away after a period of illness yesterday.

His colleagues Liam Gallagher and Gareth Scott, of the Unite union in the city, led tributes to a labour organiser who was respected and well-known in Derry and across the north.

"It was with great sadness that we learnt of the death of Philip Oakes, former Unite regional officer for the North West.

"Philip passed away in the early hours of June 1 after a long, brave battle against illness.

"He will be fondly remembered as a man of the highest integrity. He was a champion of workers' rights and a lifelong trade unionist," they said in a joint statement on Tuesday.

The father-of-two first served as shop steward and then as an officer with the old Amalgamated Union of Engineering Workers (AUEW) and then with Amicus.

Following the merger of Amicus and the Transport and General Workers' Union (TGWU) in 2007 and the creation of Unite - one of the largest labour organisations on these islands - Philip became a full-time official.

"Philip will be particularly remembered for his work in representing thousands of Unite members in the city and further afield.

"He championed the cause of manufacturing jobs in the North West and was a strong advocate for all things Derry.

"It will be a sad loss to his colleagues and Unite members in the North West but it will, of course, be a particular loss to his wife Teresa and his daughters Melissa and Kellie-Joanne.

"All of the shop stewards in Unite and the factories that Philip represented have expressed their sincere condolences to his family," said Messrs. Gallagher and Scott.

Philip's funeral will take place at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Steelstown on Wednesday followed by interment in the City Cemetery.

Sadly, due to the ongoing lockdown restrictions it will be a strictly private ceremony.