Bob Crowe RMT leader dies.

[Parafox]

He passed away in the early hours today RIP.

 

To many he was a far left red, to others he was a man who fought against injustice for the working classes and stood up for his members.

 

The government didn't like him because he was such an outspoken thorn in their side.

 

Ken Livingstone said that over time Bob Crowe would be seen as mostly right in his arguments. He also said that the only working class pepole living in London with a reasonable standard of living were RMT members because he fought for a decent wage for them.

 

In my opinion a lot of what he stood for was good and right. He was militant because he had to be.

 

Others will differ.

[Footballwipe]

MattP won't be on for a while, he's too busy organising a party and opening the champagne

[Guest MattP]

MattP won't be on for a while, he's too busy organising a party and opening the champagne

 

I wouldn't celebrate a person's death. Didn't like the bloke though, went to Dag and Red v Morecambe a few years ago and his behaviour was a disgrace,a real bully.

 

What did he die of? Sun stroke?

[Chilwell_Fox]

Didnt  really agree with his politics.

 

However, I do not take any joy in seeing somebody pass away. Take note anti-Thatcher crowd.

[Jon the Hat]

Shocked.  RIP Bob.  He was a man who stood up for what he believed in. No doubt he sometimes overplayed his hand and never saw the bigger picture - that his RMT member getting paid more and more hit the pockets of every tube user - many of whom were facing harder times than his members. 

[Webbo]

Didn't like him nor his politics but I don't take any pleasure in his death.

[Parafox]

Shocked.  RIP Bob.  He was a man who stood up for what he believed in. No doubt he sometimes overplayed his hand and never saw the bigger picture - that his RMT member getting paid more and more hit the pockets of every tube user - many of whom were facing harder times than his members. 

 

I agree here but he wasn't fighting for every tube user. He had to represent his own members and get the best for them as should every TU leader.

 

The right wing press loved to portray him as a self-serving, champagne swilling, high living hypocrite and maybe he did get well paid but, as you say, he fought for what he believed in.

[ADK]

He did his job well from what I gather.

[Guest MattP]

The right wing press loved to portray him as a self-serving, champagne swilling, high living hypocrite and maybe he did get well paid but, as you say, he fought for what he believed in.

 

Well he was wasn't he? He pulled off the "champagne socialist" image to a tee, expenses, holidays, champers everywhere he went.

 

It takes some balls to live in Social housing and hold signs saying "down with fat cats" when you earn £150,000+ a year. Even according to Kevin Maguire he had an expenses account that would have made a MP blush.

[Parafox]

Well he was wasn't he? He pulled off the "champagne socialist" image to a tee, expenses, holidays, champers everywhere he went.

 

It takes some balls to live in Social housing and hold signs saying "down with fat cats" when you earn £150,000+ a year. Even according to Kevin Maguire he had an expenses account that would have made a MP blush.

 

So what? If those were the terms and conditions of his package he, like everyone else, is only taking what he is offered. Take Rooney et al, the banker's bonuses, corporate directors and their fantastic salaries. They are only accepting what is given to them as the agreed package deal for their jobs.

 

I wouldn't disagree that living in social housing on his salary is hypocritical. It still doesn't make him unfit to lead his union or to be paid the going rate.

 

All that said, I didn't particularly like the man, but I always thought he fought hard for his members. Similarly I despised Thatcher but at least she stood up for her principles.

[absolutelegend]

I have nothing good to say about the man from a political viewpoint.

 

However, always sad when somebody dies - I'm sure he has family etc. that loved and relied on him.

[Guest MattP]

So what? If those were the terms and conditions of his package he, like everyone else, is only taking what he is offered. Take Rooney et al, the banker's bonuses, corporate directors and their fantastic salaries. They are only accepting what is given to them as the agreed package deal for their jobs.

 

Completely agree.

[indierich06]

I bet Boris Johnson can't believe his luck. You can bet he'll be trying to push through these ticket office cuts as quick as he can now while the RMT are in disarray.

[Parafox]

I bet Boris Johnson can't believe his luck. You can bet he'll be trying to push through these ticket office cuts as quick as he can now while the RMT are in disarray.

 

This

[Alf Bentley]

Good, what a c*nt

 

I bet RMT members get significantly better pay and conditions than you do, and even now, have greater job security, so who's the cvnt?! 

 

Join a union, Lamby! Improve your working life and feel the solidarity. As an ex-PFA Chairman, I'm sure that Chris Powell would agree with me.

 

I'm sure that Bob Crow used to be able to find his way to a station after dark and would turn up for a pint when he'd promised, too! Mind you, if he'd had fewer pints he might not have had a heart attack in his early 50s....   

[Bellend Sebastian]

I always remember my disappointment that he wasn't actually a crow

[Parafox]

I always remember my disappointment that he wasn't actually a crow

 

He might be now.

 

Reincarnation, it's the future.

[indierich06]

I see Farage is already on Twitter trying to score political points from his death before the body's even cold. Why am I not surprised?

[lavrentis]

I see Farage is already on Twitter trying to score political points from his death before the body's even cold. Why am I not surprised?

 

The one where Nigel Farage about Bob Crow "He was great fun to be with and great to have a pint with"

[indierich06]

The one where Nigel Farage about Bob Crow "He was great fun to be with and great to have a pint with"

 

The one I saw was along the lines of 'RIP Bob, I liked him - he definitely agreed with UKIP's anti-EU policies...'

 

It's just co-opting a dead man to push his anti-EU agenda. At least wait till the body's cold FFS.

[Jon the Hat]

Milliband is calling out Bob as staunch Labour, when he was as criticial of them as the Tories if I recall.

[l444ry]

Milliband is calling out Bob as staunch Labour, when he was as criticial of them as the Tories if I recall.

Splitting hairs a bit ain't you Jon. His views are obviously closer to Labour than the Tories.  

[Strokes]

RIP, I'm sure most of what he did was well intentioned.

[indierich06]

RIP, I'm sure most of what he did was well intentioned.

 

He did his job at the end of the day, he always made sure he fought hard for the people he represented and he got them some amazing deals. Might not have been popular, and I didn't much like the bloke personally, but you've got to say he was good at what he did. Obviously the RMT has power anyway, as they can bring London to a standstill with strike action, but that's nothing without a good leader and he certainly was.

[MooseBreath]

RIP

Obviously a complete parasite who bathed himself in luxury earned by exploiting the left's inability to see beyond immediate consequence to make them think he was all about caring and sharing.