Bob Crow
Encyclopedia
Robert Crow who is better known as Bob Crow, is a British trade union
leader, the General Secretary of the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers
(RMT) and a member of the General Council of the TUC
. He describes himself as a "communist stroke socialist" and is regarded as part of the so-called "Awkward Squad" - the loose grouping of left-wing union leaders who came to power in a series of electoral victories beginning in 2002. Since he became leader RMT's membership increased from around 57,000 in 2002 to more than 80,000 in 2008, making it one of Britain's fastest growing trade unions.
while he was an infant. He is the son of George Crow and Lillian Hutton. He attended Kingswood Upper School (a secondary modern school
which merged with the Grange School in 1982 to become Hainault Forest High School
) on Harbourer Road (near Hainault Forest Country Park
) until the age of sixteen when he left school. While he was working for London Transport
as an underground track-repairer, he started to become involved in union politics. In 1983 he was elected as a local representative to the National Union of Railwaymen
(NUR), and then in 1985 he became NUR national officer for track workers.
to form the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers
(RMT), and the following year Crow became London Underground
representative on the National Executive. In 1991 he became assistant general secretary and on 14 February 2002 Crow was elected by the membership to succeed Jimmy Knapp
as General Secretary. He received 12,051 votes in the election — nearly twice as many as the other two candidates put together (Phil Bialyk received 4,512 votes and Ray Spry-Shute received 1,997). Six weeks earlier on 1 January 2002 Crow was attacked outside his home by two men wielding an iron bar. He speculated that he was the victim of hired employer muscle.
As of 2009, Bob Crow's basic salary at RMT was £94,747; a 12% increase from the previous year. His entire pay package with bonuses and pensions was £133,138; on top of this he claimed £9,989 in expenses and £2,376 in travel costs.
and then the Communist Party of Britain
after the CPGB's dissolution, between 1983 and 1995, when he left to join Arthur Scargill
's Socialist Labour Party
(SLP). He has since left the SLP, though he remains an admirer of Scargill, and is no longer a member of any political party, although he gave his support to the now disbanded Socialist Alliance
, and believes all socialist parties should unite. In the 2005 general election
, he endorsed Robert Griffiths
, the Communist Party of Britain's candidate in Pontypridd
, calling him "a champion of workers' rights". Griffiths went on to win 233 votes (0.6%), coming in last place out of the six candidates. In the 2010 Local Election
he publicly supported the directly elected Mayoral
candidate in the London Borough of Hackney
Monty Goldman
and the candidate for Leabridge Ward
Mick Carty.
who "squandered a massive landslide from an electorate hungry for change, poured billions of public pounds into private pockets and accelerated the growing gap between rich and poor". Speaking at the founding conference of the National Shop Stewards Network
in July 2007 Crow called for a new party for the working class. This was repeated at the NSSN
and Campaign for a New Workers' Party
conference in 2008.
offered workers an inflation adjusted pay rise, Crow described TfL's approach to pay as "confrontational".
Comment is free
section the purpose of the move: "On London Underground
, bosses are threatening to tear up an agreement aimed at safeguarding jobs, and have refused to rule out compulsory redundancies. Up to 4,000 jobs are at risk as part of a multi billion pound cuts package that can be traced directly back to the collapse of Metronet
and the failure of the PPP
."
"RMT have made it clear we expect managers to abide by the existing job security agreements and we would simply not be doing our job as a union if we allowed the tube to treat our members as cannon fodder who can be hired and fired at will", adding that "It wasn't our members who created the downturn and we will not be bullied into accepting that they should be forced to pay for an economic crisis that was cooked up by the bankers and the politicians."
. No2EU — Yes to Democracy stood for a Europe of "independent, democratic states that value its public services and does not offer them to profiteers; a Europe that guarantees the rights of workers and does not put the interests of big business above that of ordinary people".
As the party leader and lead candidate in London has said, he was "not against workers coming into the country", unlike other Eurosceptic
groupings, but he is against "two workers from different countries competing against each other on different rates of pay" and added that "Our main role will be out there among working people, giving them our support and helping to save their industries from privatisation".
No2EU secured 153,236 votes, compared to an RMT membership of 80,000. The party achieved 1% of the popular vote in Britain, giving them the 12th largest share of the vote, behind Scargill's Socialist Labour Party
and the far-right British National Party
. This was insufficient for a seat in the European Parliament. In London, where Crow was a candidate, the party secured 17,758 votes, equating to the tenth largest share of the vote. In this region No2EU secured a larger share of the popular vote than the Socialist Labour Party.
for many years. He is a supporter of the Palestinians. He has shown solidarity with workers sacked in Israel, and has condemned the assault on Gaza in 2009.
since he was a boy.
asking for any evidence or information that they may have uncovered in respect of the News of the World
. Crow has suspicions that "journalists may have had access to private information about my movements and my union's activities that date back to the year 2000".
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
leader, the General Secretary of the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers
National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers
The National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers is a trade union in the United Kingdom which unionises transport workers. It has more than 80,000 members, and its current general secretary is Bob Crow...
(RMT) and a member of the General Council of the TUC
Trades Union Congress
The Trades Union Congress is a national trade union centre, a federation of trade unions in the United Kingdom, representing the majority of trade unions...
. He describes himself as a "communist stroke socialist" and is regarded as part of the so-called "Awkward Squad" - the loose grouping of left-wing union leaders who came to power in a series of electoral victories beginning in 2002. Since he became leader RMT's membership increased from around 57,000 in 2002 to more than 80,000 in 2008, making it one of Britain's fastest growing trade unions.
Early life
The son of a lavatory attendant, his family moved to HainaultHainault
Hainault is an area in the London Borough of Redbridge in north east London. It is a suburban development located north east of Charing Cross...
while he was an infant. He is the son of George Crow and Lillian Hutton. He attended Kingswood Upper School (a secondary modern school
Secondary modern school
A secondary modern school is a type of secondary school that existed in most of the United Kingdom from 1944 until the early 1970s, under the Tripartite System, and was designed for the majority of pupils - those who do not achieve scores in the top 25% of the eleven plus examination...
which merged with the Grange School in 1982 to become Hainault Forest High School
Hainault Forest High School
Hainault Forest High School is a mixed, multi-cultural, 11-18 community school situated near to Hainault Forest Country Park in Hainault, London. The school has specialist status as a Business and Enterprise College. Facilities include sports hall, resource centre, drama studio, science...
) on Harbourer Road (near Hainault Forest Country Park
Hainault Forest Country Park
Hainault Forest Country Park is one of the remaining sections of the former Forest of Essex in England. Epping Forest and Hatfield Forest are other examples. It is located in Hainault in the London Borough of Redbridge and its area is 136 hectares...
) until the age of sixteen when he left school. While he was working for London Transport
Greater London Council
The Greater London Council was the top-tier local government administrative body for Greater London from 1965 to 1986. It replaced the earlier London County Council which had covered a much smaller area...
as an underground track-repairer, he started to become involved in union politics. In 1983 he was elected as a local representative to the National Union of Railwaymen
National Union of Railwaymen
The National Union of Railwaymen was a trade union of railway workers in the United Kingdom. It an industrial union founded in 1913 by the merger of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants , the United Pointsmen and Signalmen's Society and the General Railway Workers' Union .The NUR...
(NUR), and then in 1985 he became NUR national officer for track workers.
Trade union career and politics
In 1990 the National Union of Railwaymen merged with the National Union of SeamenNational Union of Seamen
The National Union of Seamen was the principal trade union of merchant seafarers in the United Kingdom from the late 1880s to 1990. In 1990, the union amalgamated with the National Union of Railwaymen to form the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers .- The National Amalgamated...
to form the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers
National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers
The National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers is a trade union in the United Kingdom which unionises transport workers. It has more than 80,000 members, and its current general secretary is Bob Crow...
(RMT), and the following year Crow became London Underground
London Underground
The London Underground is a rapid transit system serving a large part of Greater London and some parts of Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Essex in England...
representative on the National Executive. In 1991 he became assistant general secretary and on 14 February 2002 Crow was elected by the membership to succeed Jimmy Knapp
Jimmy Knapp
James Knapp was a prominent British trade unionist and, successively, General Secretary of the National Union of Railwaymen and the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers...
as General Secretary. He received 12,051 votes in the election — nearly twice as many as the other two candidates put together (Phil Bialyk received 4,512 votes and Ray Spry-Shute received 1,997). Six weeks earlier on 1 January 2002 Crow was attacked outside his home by two men wielding an iron bar. He speculated that he was the victim of hired employer muscle.
As of 2009, Bob Crow's basic salary at RMT was £94,747; a 12% increase from the previous year. His entire pay package with bonuses and pensions was £133,138; on top of this he claimed £9,989 in expenses and £2,376 in travel costs.
Communist Party and Socialist Labour Party
Crow was a member of the Communist Party of Great BritainCommunist Party of Great Britain
The Communist Party of Great Britain was the largest communist party in Great Britain, although it never became a mass party like those in France and Italy. It existed from 1920 to 1991.-Formation:...
and then the Communist Party of Britain
Communist Party of Britain
The Communist Party of Britain is a communist political party in Great Britain. Although founded in 1988 it traces its origins back to 1920 and the Communist Party of Great Britain, and claims the legacy of that party and its most influential members Harry Pollitt and John Gollan as its...
after the CPGB's dissolution, between 1983 and 1995, when he left to join Arthur Scargill
Arthur Scargill
Arthur Scargill is a British politician who was President of the National Union of Mineworkers from 1982 to 2002, leading the union through the 1984–85 miners' strike, a key event in British labour and political history...
's Socialist Labour Party
Socialist Labour Party (UK)
The Socialist Labour Party is a far left socialist political party in the United Kingdom. The party is led by former trade union leader Arthur Scargill, who established it in 1996 as a breakaway from the Labour Party...
(SLP). He has since left the SLP, though he remains an admirer of Scargill, and is no longer a member of any political party, although he gave his support to the now disbanded Socialist Alliance
Socialist Alliance (England)
The Socialist Alliance was a left-wing electoral alliance in England between 1992 and 2005.In late 2005, a small group reformed with the name "Socialist Alliance", with a mutual affiliation with the larger Alliance for Green Socialism.-Origins:...
, and believes all socialist parties should unite. In the 2005 general election
United Kingdom general election, 2005
The United Kingdom general election of 2005 was held on Thursday, 5 May 2005 to elect 646 members to the British House of Commons. The Labour Party under Tony Blair won its third consecutive victory, but with a majority of 66, reduced from 160....
, he endorsed Robert Griffiths
Robert Griffiths (politician)
Robert Griffiths is the general-secretary of the Communist Party of Britain . He was elected by the CPB's Executive Committee in January 1998, in place of Mike Hicks, who, along with others, subsequently left the party he had a major role in founding....
, the Communist Party of Britain's candidate in Pontypridd
Pontypridd (UK Parliament constituency)
-Elections in the 2000s:-Elections in the 1990s:-Elections in the 1980s:-Elections in the 1970s:...
, calling him "a champion of workers' rights". Griffiths went on to win 233 votes (0.6%), coming in last place out of the six candidates. In the 2010 Local Election
United Kingdom local elections, 2010
The 2010 United Kingdom local elections were held on Thursday 6 May 2010, when the 2010 general election also took place. Direct elections were held to all 32 London boroughs, all 36 metropolitan boroughs, 76 second-tier district authorities, 20 unitary authorities and various Mayoral posts, all in...
he publicly supported the directly elected Mayoral
Elected mayors in the United Kingdom
Directly elected mayors are council leaders elected by the general electorate of a council area for local government, instead of being appointed by members of a local authority, which is common in the United Kingdom. The Elected Mayor is elected from a number of candidates who put themselves up for...
candidate in the London Borough of Hackney
London Borough of Hackney
The London Borough of Hackney is a London borough of North/North East London, and forms part of inner London. The local authority is Hackney London Borough Council....
Monty Goldman
Monty Goldman
Monty Goldman is an activist in the Communist Party of Britain and former Communist Party of Great Britain member who was expelled in the 1980s during that party's factional conflicts...
and the candidate for Leabridge Ward
Leabridge (ward)
Leabridge Park is a ward in the London Borough of Hackney and roughly corresponds to the Lea Bridge district of London, and is distinct from the Lea Bridge in the neighbouring London Borough of Waltham Forest. It is part of Hackney North and Stoke Newington constituency.The ward returns three...
Mick Carty.
Campaign for a New Workers' Party
Crow was an outspoken critic of Tony BlairTony Blair
Anthony Charles Lynton Blair is a former British Labour Party politician who served as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2 May 1997 to 27 June 2007. He was the Member of Parliament for Sedgefield from 1983 to 2007 and Leader of the Labour Party from 1994 to 2007...
who "squandered a massive landslide from an electorate hungry for change, poured billions of public pounds into private pockets and accelerated the growing gap between rich and poor". Speaking at the founding conference of the National Shop Stewards Network
National Shop Stewards Network
National Shop Stewards Network is a network of shop stewards launched in Britain in 2007.- Foundation :The NSSN was founded at a conference called by the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers on July 7, 2007...
in July 2007 Crow called for a new party for the working class. This was repeated at the NSSN
National Shop Stewards Network
National Shop Stewards Network is a network of shop stewards launched in Britain in 2007.- Foundation :The NSSN was founded at a conference called by the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers on July 7, 2007...
and Campaign for a New Workers' Party
Campaign for a New Workers' Party
The Campaign For A New Workers' Party is an initiative of the Socialist Party of England and Wales that argues for the establishment of a new mass workers' party, involving trade union activists, socialists, anti-capitalists, and community, anti-war and environmental activists. It was launched at...
conference in 2008.
Transport for London
After Transport for LondonTransport for London
Transport for London is the local government body responsible for most aspects of the transport system in Greater London in England. Its role is to implement the transport strategy and to manage transport services across London...
offered workers an inflation adjusted pay rise, Crow described TfL's approach to pay as "confrontational".
RMT strikes
In response to the RMT declaring a 48-hour strike on 10 June 2009, Crow wrote in The GuardianThe Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
Comment is free
Guardian.co.uk
guardian.co.uk, formerly known as Guardian Unlimited, is a British website owned by the Guardian Media Group. Georgina Henry is the editor...
section the purpose of the move: "On London Underground
London Underground
The London Underground is a rapid transit system serving a large part of Greater London and some parts of Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Essex in England...
, bosses are threatening to tear up an agreement aimed at safeguarding jobs, and have refused to rule out compulsory redundancies. Up to 4,000 jobs are at risk as part of a multi billion pound cuts package that can be traced directly back to the collapse of Metronet
Metronet
Metronet Rail was one of two companies in a public-private partnership with London Underground.Metronet was responsible for the maintenance, renewal, and upgrade of the infrastructure on nine London Underground lines from 2003 to 2008. This included track, trains, signals, civil work and stations...
and the failure of the PPP
Public-private partnership
Public–private partnership describes a government service or private business venture which is funded and operated through a partnership of government and one or more private sector companies...
."
"RMT have made it clear we expect managers to abide by the existing job security agreements and we would simply not be doing our job as a union if we allowed the tube to treat our members as cannon fodder who can be hired and fired at will", adding that "It wasn't our members who created the downturn and we will not be bullied into accepting that they should be forced to pay for an economic crisis that was cooked up by the bankers and the politicians."
No to the EU – Yes to Democracy
In March 2009, Crow announced that the RMT would be fronting the No to the EU – Yes to Democracy platform with an array of socialist organisations and individuals for the 2009 European Parliament electionsEuropean Parliament election, 2009 (United Kingdom)
The European Parliament election was the United Kingdom's component of the 2009 European Parliament election, the voting for which was held on Thursday 4 June 2009, coinciding with the 2009 local elections in England. Most of the results of the election were announced on Sunday 7 June, after...
. No2EU — Yes to Democracy stood for a Europe of "independent, democratic states that value its public services and does not offer them to profiteers; a Europe that guarantees the rights of workers and does not put the interests of big business above that of ordinary people".
As the party leader and lead candidate in London has said, he was "not against workers coming into the country", unlike other Eurosceptic
EuroSceptic
EuroSceptic is the second album of British singer Jack Lucien. It was released in October 2009.Due to being an album influenced by Europop, it features songs with parts in different languages...
groupings, but he is against "two workers from different countries competing against each other on different rates of pay" and added that "Our main role will be out there among working people, giving them our support and helping to save their industries from privatisation".
No2EU secured 153,236 votes, compared to an RMT membership of 80,000. The party achieved 1% of the popular vote in Britain, giving them the 12th largest share of the vote, behind Scargill's Socialist Labour Party
Socialist Labour Party (UK)
The Socialist Labour Party is a far left socialist political party in the United Kingdom. The party is led by former trade union leader Arthur Scargill, who established it in 1996 as a breakaway from the Labour Party...
and the far-right British National Party
British National Party
The British National Party is a British far-right political party formed as a splinter group from the National Front by John Tyndall in 1982...
. This was insufficient for a seat in the European Parliament. In London, where Crow was a candidate, the party secured 17,758 votes, equating to the tenth largest share of the vote. In this region No2EU secured a larger share of the popular vote than the Socialist Labour Party.
Bob Crow and Israel/Palestine
Bob Crow has been patron of Palestine Solidarity CampaignPalestine Solidarity Campaign
The Palestine Solidarity Campaign is a campaign in the United Kingdom promoting solidarity with the Palestinian people. It was founded in 1982 during the build-up to Israel's invasion of Lebanon.The campaign states:...
for many years. He is a supporter of the Palestinians. He has shown solidarity with workers sacked in Israel, and has condemned the assault on Gaza in 2009.
Personal life
Crow lives in a Housing Association property in Woodford, Greater London. He has another daughter, Kerry Anne Crow, from a previous marriage to Geraldine Horan. He has supported Millwall Football ClubMillwall F.C.
Millwall Football Club is an English professional football club based in South Bermondsey, south east London, that plays in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football. Founded as Millwall Rovers in 1885, the club has retained its name despite having last played in the...
since he was a boy.
News of the World phone hacking suspicions
Lawyers acting for Crow have written to the Metropolitan PoliceMetropolitan police
Metropolitan Police is a generic title for the municipal police force for a major metropolitan area, and it may be part of the official title of the force...
asking for any evidence or information that they may have uncovered in respect of the News of the World
News of the World
The News of the World was a national red top newspaper published in the United Kingdom from 1843 to 2011. It was at one time the biggest selling English language newspaper in the world, and at closure still had one of the highest English language circulations...
. Crow has suspicions that "journalists may have had access to private information about my movements and my union's activities that date back to the year 2000".
External links
- BBC profile
- The National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT)
- "Rail union leader praises communist 'workers' champion'"
- Hainault Forest High School
News items
- Bob Crow: You Ask The Questions The Independent, June 29, 2009
- Independent article September 2007