Community is extremely saddened to learn of the death of Javed Azam. Javed was a former SSI steelworker in Middlesbrough who had been a member of Community and its predecessor the Iron and Steel Trades Confederation for 35 years.

Roy Rickhuss CBE, General Secretary of Community said:

“Javed will be missed by all who knew him and his passing is a real loss to our union. For many years he protected Community members at SSI through his work on health and safety until the sad closure of the plant in 2015. He remained an active member of the union, attending TUC Black Workers Conferences and our own Biennial Conference in 2019. Our thoughts are with his family and friends.”

Javed served as branch Health and Safety rep from 2003 until the SSI steelworks closure in 2015, working on the South Bank coke ovens for 30 years. He played an active part in driving forward the union’s work for BAME workers. He was 57 years old.