If one person spits it won't make a difference, but if we all spit, we'll drown the bastards - Bob Crow

[flip_flop]

On a scale of 1 to 10, how much of a pillock is Bob Crow.

I thought we'd seen the last of this type of hectoring rhetoric, but this bull-necked cretin seems to want to drag his union back to the 70's.

He's like Vic Spanner from Carry on at Your Convenience.

[sandyRoe]

I don't think you could even begin to compare him to the fat-cat bankers and city boys who shat, rather than spat, on us not so long ago.

[FredPuli43]

Nostalgia! Ah, the good old days when unions could have strikes on a show of hands and a minor dispute in one factory could have strikes in every factory with the same union's members plus other unions coming out in sympathy. Bet he wishes it was still the same. Happily, for all his rhetoric, he can be ignored. The unions, including his, don't have the power and the workforce has moved on.

[Duncer]

I am one of the ones quite prepared to strike over the fact I have not had a wage rise for three years, (that I can cope with, given the straitened times we live in) and the fact my pension has been attacked, something I did not sign up for. Add in the increased pension contributions and I have effectively had a wage cut while bankers get bonuses for failure and MP's swan about the country with impugnity, even after fraudulently claiming expenses.

However, this pillock in no way represents me, (or most of the colleagues I have spoken too), and I have no wish to have a throwback corner-boy like this speak for on my behalf. I also worry desperately that remarks like this will detract from a just claim, in fact I know they will. I also have no wish to be part of any union attempt to overthrow any government, irrespective of their political hue. Surely their job is to look after their members and, in turn, their members can look after the government at the ballot box?

[Quizmonster]

The supposed Bob Crow quote is actually largely the title of a book by Mick Mulcahy published nearly three years ago. Good old Bob, if he even used the words, was merely echoing the sentiment.
What he does is precisely what he was elected to do; namely, to stand and fight at every turn for the workers he represents. It's a pity that our current 'government' doesn't do the same and, as for their paymasters the spiv bankers, a thorough horse-whipping would be far from inappropriate!

[Kerosene]

Depends if you're just about to lose your job and have your home repossessed, and where you, your spouse and children are then having to be put up in a hotel at public expense - innit?

[Gromit]

There is a lot not to like but he is not a pillock.

Good
1. After decades of decline, membership of his union has risen significantly since he became its leader.
2. Effectively stands against the Governments bonkers transport policies

Bad.
1. Anti EU campaign
2. Embarrassing defeat trying to sue Boris for libel.
3. Rents Social Housing and doesn't need to, depriving a genuine tenant.
4. Millwall FC supporter.

[emmie]

he is off the scale

[ludwig]

I remember him on Have I got News..
He was a right knob. He thinks it's still the 1930s or something. A complete dinosaur.

[ichkeria]

Gromit sums it up really. I personally rather admiire the sentiment expressed, if not necessarily the language used.

[Kerosene]

Some support Trades Union an others pursue right wing politics which favour the hierarchy. Neither is liked by one another, nor many of the personalities on both sides, but both are essential in a democracy.

[emmie]

as far as i can see the unions are there to serve their members, that would be all of them, not a small proportion when the time comes to strike.
It looks like we could be heading for a national teachers strike, and possibly a general strike, what will it serve in the longer term. Schools shut, children having to be cared for by parents, so they can't get to work, losing pay perhaps. If there is a general strike, that means all public services shut down, or have i missed something. Would it be a one day strike, series of strikes or what?
Have been here before i am afraid, and remember full well the three day working week, and sitting in our office with no lights, working by candle light. Can't see health and safety allowing that to happen now. What a farce. If jobs are to be protected as the unions say, does that mean they keep every useless teacher, council worker, or jobsworth, or pare it down
as private sectors have had to do.
Six million in the public sector, and that would rise i am sure when/if Labour get back into power.
Bob Crow, Len McCluskey are throwbacks to the old days, and those days are long gone.

[Kerosene]

em,

Never mind having had to sit in your office with no lights, I had to put up with miners lamps in my local - could hardly see my pint until I dribbled it down my front!

[Duncer]

"Some support Trades Union an others pursue right wing politics which favour the hierarchy. Neither is liked by one another, nor many of the personalities on both sides, but both are essential in a democracy."

Some are in unions for protection and to have their interests looked after, nothing more.

[emmie]

and some are in it because they think they have to. United we stand, isn't that how it goes.

[Duncer]

At least we aren't subjected to the old closed shop routine these days.

I remember being a shop steward in a certain public service union in the early 1980's and members money was wasted in pubs on beer and meals, not to mention going to dubious political causes.

[baza]

the days of unions fighting the cause of the worker are now unfortunately long gone, in the past they got better pay and conditions for the members. I can remember going to conferences where Bob Crow spoke on any and all motions just to be seen and heard, this brought him to members notice, which helped him crawl up the ladder to the top dog post.
His policy appears to be-Ill fight for my members no matter who gets hurt along the way.

[Duncer]

Meanwhile earning the sort of fortune he would criticise bank managers for.