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Bob Crow, Firebrand at Helm of British Union, Dies at 52 Bob Crow, Firebrand at Helm of British Union, Dies at 52
(6 months later)
LONDON — He called his dog Castro and quit the Communist Party because it was “too moderate.” LONDON — He called his dog Castro and quit the Communist Party because it was “too moderate.”
Bob Crow, a confrontational and charismatic British trade union leader, died here on Tuesday. He was 52.Bob Crow, a confrontational and charismatic British trade union leader, died here on Tuesday. He was 52.
His death was announced by the union he led for the last 12 years, the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers. It did not specify a cause, though newspaper reports said he might have had a heart attack.His death was announced by the union he led for the last 12 years, the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers. It did not specify a cause, though newspaper reports said he might have had a heart attack.
Mr. Crow, the left’s favorite firebrand and the right’s favorite villain, was that rare thing in post-Thatcher Britain: a working-class hero. His union exasperated many London commuters with its strikes, including a 48-hour walkout by subway workers in February that forced management to halt planned job cuts.Mr. Crow, the left’s favorite firebrand and the right’s favorite villain, was that rare thing in post-Thatcher Britain: a working-class hero. His union exasperated many London commuters with its strikes, including a 48-hour walkout by subway workers in February that forced management to halt planned job cuts.
But at a time when other unions were losing members and salaries were stagnant or declining, Mr. Crow increased his membership to 78,000 from 59,000. Subway engineers have been given raises regularly and will soon see their pay increase to £52,000 (roughly $86,000), nearly twice the national average. As a former mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, put it, “The only working-class people who still have well-paid jobs in London are his members.”But at a time when other unions were losing members and salaries were stagnant or declining, Mr. Crow increased his membership to 78,000 from 59,000. Subway engineers have been given raises regularly and will soon see their pay increase to £52,000 (roughly $86,000), nearly twice the national average. As a former mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, put it, “The only working-class people who still have well-paid jobs in London are his members.”
Even his enemies grudgingly respected his gritted-teeth militancy and East London wit. Boris Johnson, the current mayor of London, who sparred with Mr. Crow over the recent strikes and once called him “demented,” paid tribute to him this week, calling him “a fighter and a man of character.”Even his enemies grudgingly respected his gritted-teeth militancy and East London wit. Boris Johnson, the current mayor of London, who sparred with Mr. Crow over the recent strikes and once called him “demented,” paid tribute to him this week, calling him “a fighter and a man of character.”
Robert Crow was born on June 13, 1961, in East London. He left school at 16 and became a track worker, then rose through the ranks of the National Union of Railwaymen, which later merged with the National Union of Seamen to form the Rail, Maritime and Transport union.Robert Crow was born on June 13, 1961, in East London. He left school at 16 and became a track worker, then rose through the ranks of the National Union of Railwaymen, which later merged with the National Union of Seamen to form the Rail, Maritime and Transport union.
He was proud of his working-class heritage: his cockney accent, his life in public housing and the lessons he learned from his father, a dockworker who told him to read The Financial Times as a boy and believe the opposite of everything it said. Later, during tense salary negotiations, he would become known for his quick mental arithmetic, calculating percentages in an instant — and usually rejecting offers out of hand.He was proud of his working-class heritage: his cockney accent, his life in public housing and the lessons he learned from his father, a dockworker who told him to read The Financial Times as a boy and believe the opposite of everything it said. Later, during tense salary negotiations, he would become known for his quick mental arithmetic, calculating percentages in an instant — and usually rejecting offers out of hand.
Survivors include his partner, Nicola Hoarau; their three children; and a daughter from his marriage to Geraldine Horan, which ended in divorce.Survivors include his partner, Nicola Hoarau; their three children; and a daughter from his marriage to Geraldine Horan, which ended in divorce.
If he was sharp and shrewd, sensitive he was not. As one commentator in The Independent said, “He was straight out of a P.R. textbook: the bit on how not to do it.”If he was sharp and shrewd, sensitive he was not. As one commentator in The Independent said, “He was straight out of a P.R. textbook: the bit on how not to do it.”
When Margaret Thatcher, the former prime minister who broke union power in the 1980s, died last year, Mr. Crow was typically undiplomatic: “As far as I’m concerned she can rot in hell,” he said.When Margaret Thatcher, the former prime minister who broke union power in the 1980s, died last year, Mr. Crow was typically undiplomatic: “As far as I’m concerned she can rot in hell,” he said.
In the run-up to last month’s strike, he went on a cruise from Barbados to Brazil and was photographed by tabloid paparazzi on Copacabana Beach. On his return, a sun-tanned Mr. Crow was unrepentant. “What do you want me to do?” he asked. “Sit under a tree and read Karl Marx all day?”In the run-up to last month’s strike, he went on a cruise from Barbados to Brazil and was photographed by tabloid paparazzi on Copacabana Beach. On his return, a sun-tanned Mr. Crow was unrepentant. “What do you want me to do?” he asked. “Sit under a tree and read Karl Marx all day?”