My friend John Bailey, who has died aged 86, was a journalist and press officer who was much involved in trade union affairs, notably as president (1973-74) and then treasurer (1975-82) of the National Union of Journalists (NUJ).
An imposing figure, noted for his courtesy, civility and good humour, he showed steel and determination in both roles, particularly as treasurer when he was one of the central co-ordinators of a seven-week strike in 1978-79 against low pay by 8,000 local newspaper journalists – the largest stoppage in the NUJ’s history – which won a national pay increase of 14%.
