This month, equally, the Coalition was forced to admit what was long suspected: zero-hours contracts are far more prevalent than politicians were prepared to admit. The new estimate for 2013 is 583,000 jobs in which there is no liberty of choice or security. If you are trapped in that barbarism, you need a union. Crow and Benn would probably have agreed about causes and effects. The latter would no doubt have talked (ponderously) about the infernal ways of capitalism. The difference between the two, though, was profound. In as much as he could, the RMT man did more than most to oppose the pernicious assumptions of the age. Tony Benns self-seeking career simply became New Labours excuse to declare socialism passe. You can honour Crow, rightly enough, for what he achieved for 80,000 RMT members. Then ask yourself: how would those workers have fared without their union and their general secretary? Trade unionism survives because of need, and because, time and again, economic justice is not granted by those with power. It has to be won.
Posted on: Sun, 16 Mar 2014 09:34:59 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015