John Rossiter, who died on 30th April 2022, was a customs officer, a GAA referee and inspector of referees, and a collector of thousands of CDs. For a period of about 15 years, up to his retirement in 2012, he was among the most important decision makers in the Public Service Executive Union (PSEU), one of the forerunners of Fórsa.

John gained that status having formed a ‘slate’ of like-minded candidates who were a considerable, and sometimes dominant, bloc on the union’s executive committee. While he loved the intrigue of elections, he never lost sight of the purpose and he saw his role as ensuring sensible, pragmatic approaches by the union to advance the interests of members.

This approach had national impact in 2010. After negotiations concluded on what was to become the Croke Park agreement, some unions rushed out to denounce its terms and the mood music was negative. John had a clear view of the value of an agreement that staved off further pay cuts and persuaded the PSEU executive that it was important to generate positive momentum behind the potential agreement by conducting a speedy ballot that he was confident would carry within the union.

He reasoned that this would persuade waverers in other unions. So it was that the PSEU was to first union to complete a ballot in favour of the agreement. The agreement was to be valuable to all public servants and provided some rare stability for a three-year period in an economy that was in a downward tailspin.

That sort of nous had been learned over many years of activism. John had been an elected officer in the Irish Customs and Excise Union when it decided to merge into the PSEU. He knew and understood the internal dynamics of membership organisations and he applied a clarity of thought and implacability in argument on issues that he regarded as important.

That made him a contentious figure in some eyes but nobody could ever doubt his absolute commitment to achieving what he perceived as right for the members. He had no time for theoretical arguments or for anything that he regarded as irrelevant or impractical.

As a result, when he chaired meetings, they proceeded briskly and he would cut short debate that he judged to be leading nowhere.

John was a source of advice and support to many union members and activists and a frequent counsellor to PSEU officials, to whom he offered support so long as they demonstrated to his satisfaction that it was deserved.

John exercised decisive influence without ever engaging in rhetoric or speech-making. His was a low key, behind the scenes approach. It was an approach that was hugely relevant in securing the merger of the customs grades into the general service in Revenue and was subsequently helpful in the merging of taxes grades into the general service.

When John was made an honorary life member of the PSEU in 2012, nobody could have been prouder. It meant a great deal to him.

John spent almost his entire career in customs, most of it in his native Wexford. He was a proud father and grandfather, and it is to his family our thoughts must turn at this sad time for them. They have lost a valued and loved family member.

The rest of us are left to mourn the loss of a great friend and comrade. A clear mind and an activist heart have been stilled and the world is the worse for it. He has earned his rest.

Tom Geraghty is a former general secretary of the PSEU and former joint general secretary of Fórsa.