Bob Crow | |
|---|---|
 Crow at Industri Energi's Styrke conference in 2012 | |
| Born | Robert Crow 13 June 1961 Epping, Essex, England |
| Died | 11 March 2014 (aged 52) Whipps Cross, London, England |
| Nationality | English |
| Occupation | Trade union leader |
| Political party | Communist Party of Britain |
| Other political affiliations | Communist Party of Great Britain |
| Spouse | Geraldine Horan (divorced) |
| Children | 2 |
Robert Crow (13 June 1961 – 11 March 2014) was an English trade union leader who served as the General Secretary of the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) from 2002 until his death in 2014. He was also a member of the General Council of the Trades Union Congress (TUC). A self-described "communist/socialist", he was a leading figure in the No to EU – Yes to Democracy campaign.
Crow joined London Transport in 1977 and soon became involved in trade unionism. He was regarded as part of the Awkward Squad, a loose grouping of left-wing union leaders who came to power in a series of electoral victories beginning in 2002.[1] After he became leader, the 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.[2][3][4]
Crow was a polarising figure in British politics. Supporters praised him as a champion of the working class and a successful trade unionist;[5][2] Boris Johnson argued that he held London to ransom with strikes.[6]
- ^ According to Oliver Morgan in The Observer, 17 February 2002: "Crow's is the demeanour of a growing number of radical leaders in their forties who see little point in being nicely turned out and moderate merely to keep in power a party that ignores the interests of their members".
- ^ a b Eaton, George (14 March 2014). "Bob Crow, modern militant". New Statesman. 143 (10): 16.
- ^ Bob Crow: workers' friend?, BBC, 5 September 2007
- ^ "RMT Membership passes 80,000". RMT Union. Archived from the original on 30 August 2010. Retrieved 21 July 2010.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
Guardian obitwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Nsubuga, Jimmy (3 February 2014). "Tube strikes: Boris Johnson accuses RMT boss of holding London to ransom". Metro. Retrieved 19 July 2017.