Kenyetta Young, an uncompromising “giant” of Bermuda’s labour movement who rose to prominence as an activist for construction workers, has died at the age of 72.

A charismatic, long serving organiser for the Bermuda Industrial Union, retiring in 2007, Mr Young was personally responsible for large numbers of workers joining the movement.

“He grew the construction division and membership increased considerably,” recalled former BIU leader Ottiwell Simmons.

“He was a serious trade unionist, an organiser who went on to be a negotiator, very competent at negotiating with employers, very well respected.

“Kenyetta led his whole family to be union supporters.

“He was an attraction in a sense for people to join — a very humorous fellow, very energised, with an outgoing personality. He was almost made to be a union organiser.”

Mr Young, who spent his final years at the Lefroy House rest home, passed on Saturday, according to former BIU president and Progressive Labour Party Member of Parliament Derrick Burgess.

“Kenyetta worked in the construction industry as a young person and was very vocal on the job site,” Mr Burgess said, recollecting Mr Young as “fearless, honest and not someone to compromise his principles for anyone”.

He said Mr Young played an integral role in the fight to secure workers’ benefits, particularly in construction — “namely pensions, sick pay, vacation and public holiday pay, benefits that are taken for granted today”.

“Bermuda has moulded some giants and cousin Kenyetta was one of them.”

Mr Young, who is survived by his wife and fellow union stalwart Carolyn, was forged by “the history he went through as a young man, and seeing his mother struggle trying to manoeuvre through life”, Mr Burgess said.

“It leaves something in you. He fought to make things better in this world for everybody.

“His fight was to eradicate injustices that existed in the workplace, regardless of who the worker was.”

A plumber by trade, Mr Young was “well-known as a helpmate”, Mr Simmons said.

“If you were a friend of his, he would do anything around your house when it came to plumbing.”

Rather than being sought by the union, Mr Young was “one of those people who came to the union as an organiser”, Mr Simmons added, and swiftly became a full-time member of staff. His wife served as a shop steward at Cambridge Beaches, he said, before becoming a full-time BIU employee. “They were very much a team in the union.”

In a statement yesterday, the Progressive Labour Party offered condolences to Mr Young’s family and friends, while Opposition Leader Marc Bean said that everyone familiar with the Island’s union movement should be aware of the scope of his many contributions.

Pembroke East Central Member of Parliament Walter Roban recalled him as “one of Bermuda’s most fearless trade unionists who fought tirelessly for the workers”.

“He was my Proposer in 2007 to run for the House in my first general election as a candidate,” Mr Roban added.

“His life’s work was helping people.

“For all he has done, he is truly a hero for all of us who knew him. I learned so much from him.

“He was a hero, champion and a teacher to me personally.

“I remember visits to the BIU when he was an officer there and he was one of the people who informed me about unionism, politics and the issues concerning workers. I have never forgotten this.”