At its last meeting the members of the Cork Operative Butchers Society noted with sadness the death of our colleague Bill Cogan on 27^th January 2025.

Bill was one of the founding members of the Independent Workers Union where he served on the National Executive Committee in his role of National Treasurer until his illness forced his retirement.

A stalworth trade unionist Bill cut his teeth in the Cork Operative Butchers when he worked for Byrne Butchers. When an injustice against a fellow worker was being implemented or contemplated by an employer of the trade, our man took leading positions in putting wrongs right.

His staunch trade unionism was recognised by others when he was elected to serve as President of the Cork Council of Trade Unions in 1998/99 where he served us all with honour and distinction.

He was a strong advocate of workers strengthening themselves through collective organisation at local, national and international level. He believed that organised workers properly motivated, did not need to participate in collaboration with either Government or Employer bodies but advanced themselves better through direct confrontation in the workplace.

The meeting of the Operative Butchers branch of the Independent Workers Union agreed that the best way to remember our fallen comrade was to take to heart the words of the great American Trade Union organiser Joe Hill with the simple message:

                                                       “Don’t mourn – organise”