A trade union leader called an "80s version of Mick Lynch" by his loving family has died aged 79.
Ray Williams was an iconic figure in trade union history, both in Liverpool and across the country. Ray, who died on Sunday, July 24, has been remembered by family, friends and former colleagues as a "scouser, socialist and trade unionist" who "did anything" to help others.
Ray served as president and branch secretary of the National Graphical Association and also as the general president of the Graphical, Paper and Media Union. The dad has been remembered for his work supporting the unemployed and for picketing a number of significant causes in the 1980s.
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His family told the ECHO today their dad would be "proud" of the ongoing picket action where both rail and bus staff are striking over pay and working conditions. Daughter Lucy, 37, said: "If dad was around now I think he'd be right on that picket line. I wouldn't be surprised if he would be best friends with Mick Lynch. He was like a 80s version of Mick Lynch."
He is perhaps best known for his role in the Stockport Messenger dispute in 1983 where six members of the NGA in Stockport picketed against owner Eddy Shah. Ray appeared on the front cover of The Guardian in a picture showing him face to face with Mr Shah when the latter spoke in Liverpool after the incident.
Ray and the NGA also supported the miners' strikes in North Wales the following year. Ray's widow, Debbie, 68, told the ECHO : "Ray and his union went around all the factories in Liverpool every week collecting food donations before taking a double decker bus stacked with food down to the site.
"That happened every week for a year. We actually met one of the miners he supported at the weekend. He told us the miners were actually fatter after the strikes because of how well looked after they were."
Ray helped set up the Merseyside Community Trade Union and Unemployed Resource Centre in the Liverpool School for the Indigent Blind. The centre supported "the isolated" and "gave a sense of purpose back to the community". The project grew and was funded by the whole trade union movement and was copied in various wings across the country.
Debbie said: "They supported people struggling, both personally and through political means. It was a real key feature of the city. They put resources into young people to learn skills, there was a nursery and a library, people were fed, and helped back into work."
Ray's work also took him overseas, on a delegation to Libya and to Dominica to train people how to organise for an election. He also worked for the European Union bringing down the fatality rates in paper mills, chairing a group of 12 different countries to improve health and safety.
But despite all this, Ray was a huge family man and lifelong season ticketholder at Liverpool FC. Daughter Faye, 29, told the ECHO : "He was really caring, gentle, easy to talk to and approachable. The amount of support he gave us for our education and now our work has been a big thing for us."
The dad "always fought for the underdog" and was "the best judge of character". Following his passing, a social media post from the family was inundated with memories of Ray. Hundreds of comments remembered Ray's actions on picket lines across the country.
Debbie said: "Ray lived a full, active life and was adored by many. He passed away surrounded by his family. He will be missed so much."
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