Mike was also a staunch union man. Much like politics, he joined the union movement at a young age and became a member of the Auckland Trades Council when he was 17. Mike always had time for workers because he was one himself. He once said it was rubbish that you did not make real friends in Parliament, before listing his real friends—that included the drivers, messengers, the library staff, the staff at Bellamy's, the security guards, and researchers. It shows us who Mike was. It didn't matter what your role was; Mike was always keen to talk, to listen. He was a man of the people. 