Tributes have poured in for a trade union stalwart who was at the forefront of the struggle for workers’ rights in Bermuda.

Hailed as a man who “feared nothing and fought for everything” and a disciplined stalwart, Robert Johnston, a former Bermuda Industrial Union president, who retired as chief organiser after more than half a century has died at the age of 81.

In 1974 his successor as president, Ottiwell Simmons described him as a courageous leader whose contribution to working class citizens will be “hard to match”.

His career in trade unionism saw many a battle for workers’ rights dating back as far as the Belco riot in 1965, and even further.

When contacted, Mr Simmons called on Bermuda’s working class citizens to recognise the depth of Mr Johnston’s contributions. The two worked together for at least 40 years.

“His longevity with the union and his dedication toward the working class would be hard to match,” he said.

“Robert was very forthright, straight forward, he would shoot from the hip, it mattered not whether it was employers or union members. He was candid and very clear.

“He was a stalwart who feared nothing and fought for everything and I think the workers of Bermuda should recognise his contribution to the worthy cause of the working class citizens. And I certainly send our family to his family and his wife in particular.”

Helena ‘Molly’ Burgess, the BIU general secretary, who was seconded to the BIU from the Elbow Beach Hotel joined the ranks when Mr Johnston was president.

“When I came on as an organised seconded from Elbow Beach it was supposed to be for six months. I never returned and went on to become a divisional organiser. But it all started when Robert was the union leader. I guess you could say I was one of the BIU’s very first interns,” said Ms Burgess.

“I remember our struggles, he was a part of it and we were right there with him shoulder-to-shoulder because we worked as a team.

“He was very regimental, he was an army man, very regimental with time and getting the job done was everything to him and of course taking care of our membership.

“We will miss him for sure, we missed him when he retired, and now we’ll miss him even more.”

She recalled “his great sense of humour and compassion.

“Robert would give you his heart right out of his chest if he could. He would make you laugh in spite of the struggles we were going through at any given time over the years.

“And of course his wife was right there alongside him and all of us in the struggle. I’m sure she knows by now that when you’re a union wife it’s rough. And I’d to extend our sincere condolences to ‘Sister Nell’ in particular.

“I know if anybody came through our doors going through hardship he was right there and he would never let anyone suffer if he had anything to do with it.”

Her comments were echoed by another former BIU president, Derrick Burgess, the Deputy Leader of the Progressive Labour Party.

“I was shocked when I received the news — we’ve lost a true freedom fighter and a former candidate for the PLP in the 1970s,” he said.

“He got the job done, he was no nonsense man, very military-style but also a very compassionate and kind person.

“Robert Johnston was the type of person who would give you his last pair of shoes and he knew constitutional law very well. He knew labour and constitutional law and could quote it for you right off the top of head.

“He is a major loss, I certainly send my condolences and I want to thank his family for loaning him to us in Bermuda’s labour movement.”

In the statement released by the BIU, Bermudian author Ira Philip noted in ‘The History of the Bermuda Industrial Union’ that “Brother Johnston was 16 years-old when he joined the BIU in 1948”.

Mr Philip wrote: “He was then being trained as a plumber by his father, Derrick (Shack) Johnston, a plumbing contractor engaged in the post World War Two renovation of the Elbow Beach Surf Club.

“Suffice it to say, Brother Robert got an early start and good grounding in the labour movement.”

When interviewed by Mr Philip in 2001, Mr Johnston was 69 years-old “and still going strong as the long-functioning Union Organiser”.

“During his unbroken 51-year BIU membership, he had served under Martin Wilson from 1962 to 1964, as vice-president.

“In 1959, while working at his trade at the US Air base at Kindley Field, Johnston and Winston York, with some encouragement from their American colleagues, undertook to unionise fellow plumbers.”

“He became president of the Amalgamated Building and Construction Division of the BIU in 1962. In 1964, he represented the BIU at the 100th Annual Conference of the Trade Union Congress.

“For six years, he served on the General Council of the Caribbean Congress of Labour. It was during Johnston’s tenure as president, that new foundations, with education as the cornerstone, were laid for the growth and development of the BIU.

“Brother Johnston retired as Chief Organiser of the BIU in September, 2002.”

Condolences were sent on behalf of the BIU executive and members to Mr Johnston’s family and wife Nell Johnston. They had no children.

Funeral arrangements are pending.