Might not of been everyone's cup of tea and certainly polarised opinion but a sad loss to his members and workers of the world.......... (Hmmmmm......This debate might turn into a belter so be nice gents (and lady)
I am a worker of the world and it is no sad loss to me - condolences to his family though. Just another champagne socialist - just waiting for Tony Bliar to pop his clogs now!
I disagreed with his politics, and with most of what we knew of his character via the news media, but whenever someone passes so suddenly and so young, it's always a sad thing. Condolences to his family and friends.
Slightly misinformed IMO, Madrid....but I respect your right to air it. Personally I couldn't fault the man for his wage due to the work he put in for his members and the benefits he secured for them. And how he spent that wage isn't my business....but again that's just my opinion, as might be shared by many 'workers of the world'.
Like your OP suggested Staines ´not every one´s cup of tea´ - for me he was as mis-informed as you suggest I am, he was always quick to blame ´London Transport´. I will always remember one of his broadcasted ´foot in mouth´ rants: When the Underground and Buses were attacked in 2005 he was having a radio interview, as soon as he heard the news he stated that the risk of electrical explosions on the Underground were always present because of all the maintanence his members had to do in a short time frame with limited equipment. So he blamed London Transport for the explosiones before it became apparent that there was a terrorist attack. I will never forget that day for that and most importantly for the tragic loss of life in London. So I am not a fan unlike yourself.
So he actually stated a fact that safety was (and is) being comprised by the working practices of TFL for the sake of profit ?? Personally I'm finding it hard to disagree, but then again, as you rightly say, I am a fan
Bloody hell, he was younger than me. Some nice tributes being paid, including from Boris Johnson. Be careful not to judge him on Daily Mail soundbites. His salary was up to his Union and its members, beyond criticism from my perspective, though a PR own goal. His decision to live in a council house and pay council rent on this salary, on the grounds that 'they are not just for poor people' and 'why should my family move' not quite as easy to justify, he didn't get that this decision was keeping somebody else waiting on a list and in B&B, not very comradely. Something very old fashioned, 1970s, about him. Of course his prominence is mainly due to the fact that his members had genuine economic clout, withdrawal of their labour really did impact millions of people. When it gets to going on strike, both sides have failed, but the right to strike is a fundamental in trying to maintain some kind of balance between employers and employees. Then again I shouldn't really comment, I let my Labour Party and Union (can't even remember which one I was in) membership lapse under Kinnock, after the dubious pleasure of meeting some prospective PLP candidates (including a future cabinet minister) and a couple of Union leaders. Narrow minded intellectual midgets (apologies to midgets) to a person.
IF that was in fact the case, however the interview was regarding a non-related issue but as soon as he heard about an explosion on the Underground so began his rant at London Transport. No one is saying that business owners are whiter than white but for me he was distasteful, rather like Philip Green who is polar opposite politics-wise but I wont shed a tear when this flagrant tax-dodger leave us either.
The bloke made a difference and i used to admire his ways 100% He was working class and used to upset the upper classes with his champagne antics Thought it was great recently when the BBC tried to discredit him by interviewing him in Brazil while the tube debate was ongoing... He was on holiday so what BBC get your own house in order FFS. It goes without saying IMO there are millions of conditioned people who crave money in front of this bloke that need hanging Not enough trouble makers left and certainly no justice As for Blair I can only pray for a nasty death for that wancer
Sb- good post but on the subject of him living in a council house on his wage, seems strange the same stigma wouldn't be attached to someone sending their kids to a state school or using the NHS. After all, as he once said, he at least pays his rent from his own pocket, where as many don't. It's a strange world we live in. And I don't take the midget comment personally
See that Roboat over there ... http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-26216489 See that roboat over there... he is a bloody car
I think its a little different Stainsey, because there is at least an element of means testing about council housing, it is I think meant to be for families struggling to find/afford private sector accommodation; whereas 'free at the point of delivery' and 'universal' have been basic tenets of education (obviously not Higher Education, tragically for my bank balance, nowadays) and health care (and sadly I think this is one of the reasons that the quality of the NHS, in many ways Governments greatest achievement since the war, is plummeting). you're not that small mate
This seems to be turning into a SWP thread... Not my cup of tea at all was Bob or his politics but he stuck to his principles and I wouldn't wish ill on anyone. As Stan says he seems to me to be a bit of a '70's throwback but I guess his union members wouldn't have kept him in his post if he hadn't done his best for them.
Maybe a little different mate, but when 'Right to buy' came in, I personally think the whole issue of council property got fudged a little. Many bought into the fact that they could own their own bit of England and make better of themselves.....self greed or self determination ?? Depends which way you look at it, for many who sold on, vast profits were made but for many more who overborrowed, it became a millstone around their neck and led back onto the path of poverty and debt.
Always sad whenever a person as young as that dies. Getting a lot of nice sentiments but this is a man that said Margaret Thatcher can ‘Rot in Hell’. Never sure what it achieves saying things as nasty as that about someone. Can say he was very good at his job. Got the tube drivers into a position where they start on 40 grand plus and with great holiday entitlement for doing a job a monkey could master Only positive is that it might free up a council house for someone that needs it/deserves it rather than someone on a six figure salary like he was Disgraceful that he was even allowed to do this. Welfare state and council houses are part of that are there to get people into a position where they can support themselves. Once he got himself he should have moved on and allowed someone else to go and better themselves. Don’t follow Staines’ point about using the NHS or a state school at all.
