Bob Crow: Socialist, Leader, Fighter: A Political Biography

260 Pages·2017·1.161 MB·English

by  Gregor Gall

Bob Crow: Socialist, leader, fighter

Bob Crow:
Socialist, leader, fighter
A political biography
GREGOR GALL
Manchester University Press
Copyright © Gregor Gall 2017
The right of Gregor Gall to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by him
in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
Published by Manchester University Press
Altrincham Street, Manchester M1 7JA
www.manchesteruniversitypress.co.uk
British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data applied for
ISBN 978 1 5261 0029 0 hardback
First published 2017
The publisher has no responsibility for the persistence or accuracy of URLs for any external
or third-party internet websites referred to in this book, and does not guarantee that any
content on such websites is, or will remain, accurate or appropriate.
Typeset in 10.5/12.5pt Sabon by
Servis Filmsetting Ltd, Stockport, Cheshire
To his comrades in arms, Mark Serwotka and Matt Wrack

Contents
Acknowledgements viii
List of abbreviations ix
Introduction 1
1 Formative years 16
2 The 1990s 29
3 Becoming RMT general secretary 54
4 Second term as general secretary 81
5 Last term of office 104
6 Person and personal life 121
7 Politics and practice 146
8 Perception and practice 181
9 Legacy and legend 212
Appendix 1: Testimonies 240
Appendix 2: Tributes to Crow 241
Bibliograph y 242
Index 246
vii
Acknowledgements
My thanks are due to John Kelly for his advice in redrafting the manu-
script, Caroline Wintersgill of Manchester University Press for her
support, and Martin Donohue and Unjum Mirza for providing contact
details of those who worked with Bob Crow before he became general
secretary of the RMT.
viii
Abbreviations
ACAS Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service
AEEU Amalgamated Engineering and Electrical Union
AEU Amalgamated Engineering Union
AGS assistant general secretary
ASLEF Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen
ASTMS Association of Scientific, Technical and Managerial Staffs
AWL Alliance for Workers’ Liberty
BFAWU Bakers, Food and Allied Workers Union
BNP British National Party
CFDU Campaign for a Fighting and Democratic Union
CoE Council of Executives
CWU Communication Workers Union
FBU Fire Brigades Union
GGC General Grades Committee
ITF International Transport Workers’ Federation
LU London Underground
LUL London Underground Limited
NGA National Graphical Association
NSSN National Shop Stewards’ Network
NUJ National Union of Journalists
NUM National Union of Mineworkers
NUR National Union of Railwymen
NUS National Union of Seamen
NUT National Union of Teachers
PCS Public and Commercial Services Union
POA Prison Officers Association
PPP Private–Public Partnership
RMT National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers
SLP Socialist Labour Party
SOGAT Society of Graphical and Allied Trades
SSP Scottish Socialist Party
STUC Scottish Trades Union Congress
SWP Socialist Workers Party
ix