"I am desperately saddened by news of Bob's untimely death. I worked with him and his union for years and you always knew with Bob that what you saw was what you got. The world of work is weaker today with his passing, but his legacy will be the proud, strong union that he leaves behind. Bob had strong views. One of them was opposing the invasion of Iraq. Yet he and his union were big enough after that to extend their solidarity to the new unions in Iraq. On every level he showed that standing up for your beliefs and rights is a thing of honour and pride.