As a friend and colleague of Alex Mattingly, I can attest to his calm, pragmatic style of negotiating in print and publishing, an industry that often chose the “locked horn” approach in dealing with industrial relations – resulting in a decline in trade union influence in that sector and the strengthening of an arrogant, bullying style of management. Let’s hope that trade unions can follow Alex’s example in working to achieve a strong voice for employees in their place of work.
