THE Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), in a statement issued on September 21, paid homage to veteran trade union leader Comrade MM Lawrence, who passed away on September 21 at 12 pm in Kochi at the age of 95 due to age-related illness. The CITU extends its condolences to his family members and all comrades.

Comrade MM Lawrence began his political activities at the age of 18, participating in the freedom struggle. He began his trade union life by organising manual scavengers as a leader of AITUC and was imprisoned in 1950 for his valiant stand against the police, who had illegally detained comrades. During this struggle, he was beaten mercilessly by the police.

He was one of the founders of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) in Kerala, alongside Comrades E Balanandan, KN Ravindranathan, and others. Throughout his life, he was a militant fighter for the cause of the working class, eventually rising to serve as the general secretary of the CITU Kerala state committee and national secretary from 1983 to 2010. He also served as vice president from 2000 to 2003.

Comrade Lawrence was the president of the Cochin Port Labour Union and several other unions representing both organised and unorganised workers. He was also a national leader of the Water Transport Workers Federation of India. As part of his dedication to the working class, he was elected to the Lok Sabha from Idukki, Kerala, serving from 1980 to 1984.

In addition to his trade union work, Comrade Lawrence was a member of the CPI(M) Central Committee, a member of the Kerala state secretariat, and the convener of the Left Democratic Front (LDF) in Kerala. The CITU lowers its banner in respect for the departed Comrade MM Lawrence.