Bob Crow: Socialist, Leader, Fighter: A Political Biography

(Hardback)

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Bob Crow was the most high-profile and militant union leader of his generation. This biography focuses on his leadership of the RMT union, examining and exposing a number of popular myths created about him by political opponents. Using the schema of his personal characteristics (including his public persona), his politics and the power of his members, it explains how and why he was able to punch above his weight in industrial relations and on the political stage, helping the small RMT union become as influential as many of its much larger counterparts. As RMT leader, Crow oversaw a rise in membership and promoted a more assertive and successful bargaining approach. While he failed to unite all socialists into one new party, he established himself as the leading popular critic of neo-liberalism, 'New' Labour and the age of austerity. -- .

Reviews

In this well written new biography Gregor Gall explains how and why Bob Crow achieved this fame. Central to Bobs rise to power was the position of the RMT workers on the London Underground.
Bernadette Hyland, Lipstick socialist

Gregor Galls biography does justice to Crow the socialist, leader and fighter. He was a complicated figure and some of that complexity comes over in the book.
Paul Salveson, Tribune April 2107

Theres a great exploration of the structures that Crow inherited, the limitations they placed on him and what he did to change the situation, thereby encouraging the development of the RMT on the trajectory that it became renowned for.
Alan Crowe, Socialist Review May 2017

The late leader of the small but politically important RMT union a Marxist Millwall supporter, as the papers had it, and he was both; the most hated man in Britain, as some papers tried on, and he wasnt is well served by an account of his career set against informed analysis of 21st-century UK trade unions far-from-dinosaurish determination to grapple with changing workplaces, state rollback, electoral politics after Labours Blairite takeover, gender equity and globalisation. Gall is wary of the great man approach, but wherever Crows own words appear, the tale shifts from scholarly grey to vivid, quotable, charismatic and quip-filled Red Flag red and the words great man look pretty spot on.
THES 20/04/2017

As the first book about Bob Crow published since his untimely death three years ago, Gregor Galls political biography of Crow provides us with an opportunity to review his life and his time in the railworkers union NUR and its successor RMT, to highlight the key reasons for his effectiveness and impact, and to examine the limits of those.
Janine Booth, Solidarity Newspaper May 2017

'As a political analysis it is refreshing, nuanced and worthwhile.'
Conrad Landin, TLS, June 2017

Gall neatly presents Crows early life in poverty and the unshakeable class consciousness, learned from his Communist Party father, heretained all his life. He also describes Crows rise to prominence in the union, the industrial struggles and the RMT break with the Labour Party in 2004a well-researched book.
Martin Pitt and Anne Kenefeck, International Socialism, A quarterly review of socialist theory, Issue 157

The book is a fitting record of Bobs life which draws out lessons and inspirations for us as a movement and as a class going forward.
Richard Whyte, Scottish Left Review, Issue 103

this book should be placed high on the reading list of anyone interested in British industrial relations and the labour movement in general.
David OConnell, Global Labour Journal, 2018

Author Bio

Gregor Gall is Professor of Industrial Relations at the University of Bradford