The former trade union leader and champion of the national living wage, Rodney Bickerstaffe, has died aged 72. In news that has shocked the labour movement and left, tributes have been led by current union leaders and prominent Labour politicians, including UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis and Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell. It has also come to light that, in addition to his work as a campaigner and union … Continue reading Rodney Bickerstaffe (1945-2017): labour historian

The SSLH is saddened to learn of the passing of the Australian archivist and activist Dr Sigrid McCausland. Sigrid served as University Archivist at both the University of Technology, Sydney and the Australian National University, where she successfully spearheaded the fight to save the Noel Butlin Archives Centre.(The Noel Butlin Archive centre is a repository for labour movement records in Australia and the Pacific). Continue reading Dr Sigrid McCausland

We regret to announce the death of Irene Wagner on February 4th at the age of 99. Irene, as Labour Party archivist, was an original member of the Society’s Archive Committee, formed in 1965. She played an important role in Society affairs and was the driving force in moves to create the International Association of Labour History Institutions [IALHI]. Read The Guardian’s obituary written by … Continue reading Irene Wagner

The eminent historian Eric Hobsbawm died 1 October 2012 at the age of 95. He wrote more than 30 books. His reputation rests largely on four works, including History of the 20th Century, The Age of Extremes, which has been translated into 40 languages. Born to Jewish parents in Egypt in 1917, the year of the Russian Revolution, Prof Hobsbawm’s life and works were shaped … Continue reading Eric Hobsbawm (1917-2012)

Rein van der Leeuw, director of the International Institute of Social History from 1974 until 1986, passed away on 6 September 2012. Continue reading Rein van der Leeuw (1920-2012)