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