UCU sends condolences following death of Bob Crow

Mr Crow, who passed away on Tuesday at the age of 52, served as general secretary of the RMT for 12 years following his election in 2002.

The letter to RMT President Peter Pinkney, from UCU President Simon Renton, praised the contribution which Mr Crow made to the union movement as a 'towering figure and a leader of whom any union should have been proud.'

It went on to say that his 'principled stand for working people [and] public services' will be greatly missed, and that his death is an 'irreparable loss to us all.'

*Full transcript of the letter to Peter Pinkley at RMT:

Dear Peter,

I was shocked to hear of the tragic, early death of Bob Crow.  The labour movement has lost a towering figure and a leader of whom any union should have been proud.  He will be greatly missed, not only by members of RMT who could not have been better served by any General Secretary, but also by all the rest of the labour and trade union movement.  Those of us who, like Bob, recognised that active, fighting trade unions are all that stands between us and the barbaric destruction of all the advances and achievements of working people, will miss his leadership and his principled stand for working people, for public services, for public ownership and control, and for socialism.  Bob recognised that only trade unions can defend us against attacks by governments and employers on everything that makes a society civilised. 

We can best remember him by working to build the trade union and labour movement that he loved and to which he dedicated his life.  But Bob's death is an irreparable loss to us all.  Please pass on my condolences and those of the UCU and its National Executive to your National Executive and to Bob's family and friends.  You have our deepest sympathy.

Best wishes,

Simon Renton
President