A great-grandfather has launched his own trade union — and hopes at least 100 people will sign up as members.

Community activist Raymond Russell, well known in Bermuda for taking up the cause of the underdog, says Our Civil Rights Union (OCRU) is open to everyone, regardless of profession or trade.

"It's for anybody," he told The Royal Gazette. "All I need to pull my programme together is 100 people. I want to do something good for the country; that's what it's all about."

Pembroke father-of-three Mr. Russell, 69, was a member of Bermuda Industrial Union (BIU) for decades, but became disillusioned with what he felt was a lack of transparency about how members' fees were being spent. He also left the PLP several years ago, after losing faith in the party.

"There will be no secrets from the members," he said of OCRU. "They will always be able to see what is happening with their money. I have never seen any transparency from this union (the BIU) that I was in for 50 years.

"I came up in the BIU 50 years ago and during that time all the meetings I went to, I never had no information before. You went to the meeting blind. With Our Civil Rights Union, when we are having a meeting, you'll get information before."

The union's aims will be to press for members' rights, including pay, pensions and medical insurance. Mr. Russell also hopes to build up a pot of money to help provide subsidised housing for needy members.

The former head hotel bell captain has been helping workers assert their rights on the Island for years and is still fighting on behalf of Filipino waiter Antilano Del Rosario, who accused Grotto Bay Hotel of unfair dismissal in 2005 and has since returned to his home country.

"We send him finance when we can," he said, adding that he planned to take the case to the United Nations.

Mr. Russell cites housekeeping workers in hotels, many of whom are non-Bermudian, as some of the most poorly paid members of society.

"The aim of the union is to bring the membership into an economic condition where they'll be comfortable," he said. "They won't be so destitute.

"We will have the money to help. You'd be surprised in Bermuda, there are many people that don't know how to get things done for themselves. That's why constantly every day I'm doing something for somebody. I've been this way since I was 13."

He urged people to get in touch with him to learn how they could benefit from OCRU. "People themselves will decide whether my credibility, which I have had for many years, will determine whether they want to be involved in something that's going to benefit them, not benefit me as an individual."

There is a $3 fee to join OCRU and the union dues are two percent of gross earnings. To find out more call Mr. Russell on 336-4551.