My son Toby Hayward-Seers, who has died aged 27 following a cardiac arrest, was an active trade union member. He was deeply committed to workers’ rights and international human rights throughout his short working life.

He was employed at the University of East London in the quality assurance team between 2019 and 2022, where he was also international relations officer for Unison. Joining Bectu in November 2022 as an organising official, he rapidly gained the respect of members and staff. Many colleagues have said his unwavering belief in creating a fairer and more inclusive society was an inspiration. His first recruitment event brought in record numbers of new people, and Bectu’s young members award has been renamed in his memory.

This post was originally published on Human rights | The Guardian.