Bob Crow dies

[MoogleViper]

The 52-year-old is believed to have suffered a heart attack and died in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

 

London Mayor Boris Johnson, with whom he clashed over plans for the Tube, said: "I am shocked. Bob Crow was a fighter and a man of character."

 

Labour leader Ed Miliband said he was "a major figure in the Labour movement and was loved and deeply respected by his members".

 

Mr Crow was elected general secretary of the RMT in 2002 following the death of former leader Jimmy Knapp.

 

The BBC's political editor Nick Robinson said Mr Crow "was, some argue, the most successful union leader in terms of securing jobs and pay for his members".

 

He is understood to have been due at a TUC executive awayday in Surrey on Monday, but was unable to attend because he was feeling unwell.

 

Mr Miliband offered his condolences: "I didn't always agree with him politically but I always respected his tireless commitment to fighting for the men and women in his union.

 

"He did what he was elected to do, was not afraid of controversy and was always out supporting his members across the country.

 

"He was a passionate defender of and campaigner for safe, affordable public transport and was a lifelong anti-fascist activist."

 

Mr Johnson said in a statement: "Whatever our political differences, and there were many, this is tragic news."

 

"Bob fought tirelessly for his beliefs and for his members.

 

"There can be absolutely no doubt that he played a big part in the success of the Tube, and he shared my goal to make transport in London an even greater success.

 

"It's a sad day."

 

Former mayor Ken Livingstone told Sky News: "He fought really hard for his members. The only working-class people who still have well-paid jobs in London are his members."

 

Born in 1961 in east London, Mr Crow got his first job on the underground at the age of 16, fixing rails and cutting down trees by the track.

 

He became a local representative for the then National Union of Railwaymen at the age of 20.

 

Last month, Mr Crow joined his members on the picket line during a Tube strike, called in protest at the mayor's plan to close ticket offices.

 

Manuel Cortes, leader of the TSSA rail union, which also took part in the strike, said: "Bob Crow was admired by his members and feared by employers, which is exactly how he liked it.

 

"It was a privilege to campaign and fight alongside him because he never gave an inch."

 

TUC general secretary Frances O'Grady said he was "an outstanding trade unionist, who tirelessly fought for his members, his industry and the wider trade union movement".

 

Paul Kenny, GMB general secretary, added: "Even people who didn't like what he did agreed he did it very well."

 

Kevin Maguire, associate editor at the Daily Mirror, said on Twitter: "Bob Crow was a big burly bloke with a great brain, wit, heart of gold and surprisingly soft handshake. Missing him already."

 

A longstanding Millwall supporter, Mr Crow was not a member of any political party, and was often equally critical of Labour - especially New Labour - as he was of the Conservatives.

 

Nevertheless, many Labour MPs gave glowing tributes to him.

 

John McDonnell, convenor of the RMT parliamentary group, wrote on Twitter: "In Bob Crow we have lost one of the finest trade union leaders and socialists our movement has known. I am devastated by this tragic news."

 

His colleague Jeremy Corbyn said Mr Crow was also "a very dedicated opponent of racism and fascism whenever it reared its head", as well as taking part in anti-war campaigning.

 

Source: BBC

 

Well this is certainly not expected. He wasn't a particularly likeable character, but he was a very respectable man, and an excellent unionist.

 

I worry for the future of the RMT, unionism, and even socialism in England without him.

[Daft]

Right after he said MPs should get a paid more.

[Agent Gibbs]

He fought for workers rights, and the whole getting rid of manned ticket boths was nuts and needed denouncing and fighting against

A loss for workers right RIP

 

 

 

that said on a lighter/too soon note

 

sickipediabot ‏@sickipediabot 41s

Rail Union leader Bob Crow has died of a massive heart attack. So it was blocked tubes that finally killed him, oh the irony.

 

As much as its too soon i had a hard time not seeing the irony and funny side of that

[Zechs Merquise]

An utterly detestable parasite. All for 'socialism', yet he lived on £145,000 a year paid for out of workers' subs.

[MoogleViper]

An utterly detestable parasite. All for 'socialism', yet he lived on £145,000 a year paid for out of workers' subs.

 

But he's done more for his union members than any other leader since the 70s.

[Dog-amoto]

A big loss. I'm an RMT member, though will soon be moving to ASLEF as they're a more specialised train driver union.

 

But unless someone takes the helm who employers fear and respect as much as Bob, I'm afraid that many of my co-workers' conditions and jobs will be eventually sold down the river.