British trade union leader Bob Crow RIP – ‘A mighty oak has fallen’

» John Hedges

An Phoblacht Editor

‘The blunt, shaven-headed, Millwall-supporting Crow was easily portrayed as a classic union bogeyman in the right-wing press but polling often showed that he and his causes were more popular among the public than the caricature suggested’

THE SUDDEN DEATH of British fighting trade union leader Bob Crow on Tuesday 11 March from a suspected heart attack came as a great shock to many, including Sinn Féin TD Mary Lou McDonald when she heard the news direct from An Phoblacht as it was coming out from London.

The straight-talking voice of the Rail, Maritime and Transport workers’ union (RMT) was scheduled to share a platform with Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams and deputy leader Mary Lou McDonald in New York on Saturday 15 March with other trade union leaders at an event organised by Transport Workers’ Union Local 100 for ‘Quill-Connolly Day’.

The unashamed, outspoken defender of trade unionism and socialism was a regular speaker at this and other trade union and solidarity events. He was an internationalist.

Singer and activist Billy Bragg tweeted that Bob Crow was “a real champion of working people – don't mourn, organise!”

Respect MP George Galloway said of Bob Crow’s passing: “A mighty oak has fallen. His death leaves a huge gap.”

Gwyn Topham of the Guardian newspaper in Britain wrote of Bob Crow (pictured above):

“The blunt, shaven-headed, Millwall-supporting Crow was easily portrayed as a classic union bogeyman in the right-wing press, and he was doubtless cursed by many commuters on strike days. But polling often showed that he and his causes were more popular among the public than the caricature suggested.

“He spoke bluntly but fluently and was good with soundbites, whether in suit, cloth cap or football shirt; and he appeared on the likes of Have I Got News for You, like a working-class Boris of the hard Left.

“His political opponents would often accuse Crow of being a dinosaur but the recent Tube strikes over ticket office closures showed a degree of public support that suggested his instincts were sound.”

Under a New Statesman headline saying, “What Bob Crow knew: better pay can’t be won without a fight,” George Eaton wrote:

“After the news of his death, the Daily Mail’s Tim Shipman tweeted: ‘If the NUJ had represented me like Bob Crow did his members, I might still be a member of the union.’

“There was no greater tribute to Crow's efforts than the rise in RMT membership from 57,000 to 77,000 (making it the fastest-growing union) at a time when others were in permanent decline.”

THE Left Foot Forward news blog collected some of Bob Crow’s most notable quotes:

On striking

“Our job is to represent working people. Management is refusing to negotiate. We either accept that or do something about it. You cannot have a dispute without inconvenience to the travelling public. It’s not selfish. Our job is to defend and improve our members’ terms and conditions.”

On the British royal family

“I think the royal family is very privileged. I wouldn’t like to see any harm coming to them, but I do believe they lead a very privileged life. Why should they be able to start out in the world with far more benefits than other people?”

On socialism

“I’m not looking for Utopia. In my view, everyone should have the chance of a job at a decent wage; to have the opportunity to buy or rent a house. There should be a decent National Health Service and good schooling for everyone.”

On Tony Benn

(Was Benn not a born aristocrat, one who renounced his title? Crow was asked.)

“Just because you go to the Virgin Islands it doesn’t make you a virgin does it?”

On the Labour Party

“The achievements of Labour in the years after the Second World War should never be underestimated, but they are now history.”

On Margaret Thatcher’s death

“I won’t shed one single tear over her death. She destroyed the NHS and destroyed industry in this country and as far as I’m concerned she can rot in Hell.”