John Sullivan, Father, husband, Barnet resident and grassroots local hero ‘Rest in Peace’

Source: The above video is John Sullivan speaking at the UK Covid Inquiry in 2024.

 

Dear Barnet UNISON members

I want to inform you of the passing of John Sullivan.

John was a Barnet resident and a true friend of Barnet UNISON and the services our members provided for residents of the London Borough of Barnet.

I have known John, Ida (John’s wife) and Susan (John’s daughter) for almost 30 years. I first met him when Barnet UNISON was fighting the closure of Etchingham Park Day Centre. John was an ardent advocate for his community. He would fight tooth and nail for you if he believed it was the right thing to do.

Over the years John has supported Barnet UNISON members across a number of campaigns such as the Fremantle care worker dispute, the One Barnet outsourcing campaign, Your Choice Barnet campaign and sadly, most recently, the fight for justice for those who lost loved ones during the COVID pandemic.

He has stood on Barnet UNISON picket lines, taken part in demonstrations, spoken out in countless public meetings, often calling out politicians who were failing those who most need public services.

It was an honour and privilege to have known John and his family.

My last comment is to direct Barnet UNISON members to the link to the UK COVID-19 Inquiry where John gave evidence about what happened to his daughter who died early on in the pandemic.

The fact that he found the mental and physical strength to take part and give evidence is a testament to the unique person John was.

I am also providing a link to the whole inquiry.

You can watch John give evidence 4 hours and 20 minutes into the inquiry

https://www.youtube.com/live/UyJfu8wOxco?si=-ZjW8QmnXm1DDN8s

Below are some links to John’s contribution to fighting for public services:

 

How Barnet Eye guest blogger John Sullivan moved LBC’s James O’Brien to tears

https://barneteye.blogspot.com/2021/05/how-barnet-eye-guest-blogger-john.html

 

My Susan was allowed to die of Covid because she had Down’s syndrome, father says

https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/daughter-died-covid-downs-syndrome-2970056?srsltid=AfmBOorB1oe6ouWHbr2bFmdOF1h3MDqlGFo-WbIqRMXag5ngOlHmeKsI

 

Barnet UNISON Pays Tribute to The Little Chief, Susan Sullivan

https://www.barnetunison.me.uk/wp/2020/03/30/barnet-unison-pays-tribute-to-the-little-chief-susan-sullivan/

 

JUDICIAL REVIEW CHALLENGE TO PRIVATISATION OF BARNET COUNCIL SERVICES LAUNCHED

https://www.barnetunison.me.uk/wp/2012/12/07/judicial-review-challenge-to-privatisation-of-barnet-council-services-launched/

 

Your Choice Barnet – John Sullivan’s statement read by Barbara Jacobson 27.11.2013

https://youtu.be/0IsKGHwp0kU?feature=shared

 

YOUR CHOICE BARNET CARE WORKERS CAMPAIGN

https://www.barnetunison.me.uk/wp/wp-content/uploads/2015.01.15.%20YCB%20FLYER%20PUBLIC.pdf

 

CapitaVille song – sung by John Sullivan

https://youtu.be/-MZYbxk2Ssg?feature=shared

 

Legal Challenge to One Barnet

https://youtu.be/etOSBzuN1LM?feature=shared

 

Rest in Peace John.

 

Solidarity

 

John Burgess, Branch Secretary, Barnet UNISON.