Re: Bob Crow - RMT Union leader : Tue Mar 11, 2014 7:44 pm  

Sal Paradise wrote:

Are you suggesting those they pay for private education and health should not have to pay to support the publicly available versions or they should pay for the latter but be excluded from access to it?

We're still waiting for your idea of what a 'socialist' should expect to get paid for whatever job they do.

Have you worked out the equation yet?

Re: Bob Crow - RMT Union leader : Tue Mar 11, 2014 9:07 pm  

Seemed like a decent bloke to me and I'm sure he'll be sorely missed within the Union movement.

Re: Bob Crow - RMT Union leader : Tue Mar 11, 2014 9:10 pm  

Sal Paradise wrote:

Are you suggesting those they pay for private education and health should not have to pay to support the publicly available versions or they should pay for the latter but be excluded from access to it?

I'm not suggesting anything, but Adam Boulton, who isn't known for his "leftie" views and who works for a boss who's media outlets support the incumbents, was suggesting that criticism of a man who choses to rent and live in a housing association home rather than buy his own simply because others perceive that he could afford to do such a thing, therefore can easily then be extended to include all of those who could easily afford private health care or private education and choose instead to use the public funded version, in other words criticism of his choice of home is hypocritical nonsense usually made by those who are most hypocritical in their own healthcare and childrens education choices.

Re: Bob Crow - RMT Union leader : Tue Mar 11, 2014 10:01 pm  

I was actually quite shocked and sad when I heard this. Whatever his loathsome political ideals, 52 is no age to die.

He was famous as he is was leader of perhaps the only union where industrial action had leverage in 2014.

£50k a year for a train driver is an absolute joke. They don't even have to steer!

Still they will soon be replaced by robots (that's how difficult the job is) and in 20 years will be looked upon in much the same way as bus conductors.

Re: Bob Crow - RMT Union leader : Tue Mar 11, 2014 11:23 pm  

A sad day indeed. Bob Crow stood head and shoulders above the politicians from the big 3 parties. If only they had half of his integrity, strong principles and commit to the working man this would be a far better country. Condolences to his family.

Re: Bob Crow - RMT Union leader : Tue Mar 11, 2014 11:25 pm  

Mintball wrote:

We're still waiting for your idea of what a 'socialist' should expect to get paid for whatever job they do.

Have you worked out the equation yet?

Whilst I support Bob Crow's level of remuneration, on the grounds that he was very good at his job, I would have thought that those people who rail against successful high earners should refuse any salary above national average wage. Otherwise aren't they just becoming part of the wealthy elite that they claim to despise?

Re: Bob Crow - RMT Union leader : Wed Mar 12, 2014 1:19 am  

XBrettKennyX wrote:

I...

£50k a year for a train driver is an absolute joke. They don't even have to steer!
...

Piece of cake.



Anyone can apply to be a train driver. If it's such money for old rope, what's stopping you?

Re: Bob Crow - RMT Union leader : Wed Mar 12, 2014 6:17 am  

A fairly poignant view from one unshackled on another unshackled. Always sad to see the passing of an unhandcuffed. http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/mar/11/bob-crow-workers-rmt-leader

A fairly poignant view from one unshackled on another unshackled. Always sad to see the passing of an unhandcuffed. http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/mar/11/bob-crow-workers-rmt-leader

Re: Bob Crow - RMT Union leader : Wed Mar 12, 2014 6:43 am  

Ferocious Aardvark wrote:

Anyone can apply to be a train driver. If it's such money for old rope, what's stopping you?

Surely as its a free market, the high wages attract the best people. If you were truly good enough to earn £50k a year, you would be able to get a job paying it.

A fact lost on the "politics of envy" brigade that seem to think levelling down is best.

Remember those who are earning £50k a year driving trains are probably paying most of that in tax to the nanny state UK government. I wouldn't be surprised if some of them simply go elsewhere and drive trains in Switzerland or Hong Kong.

Re: Bob Crow - RMT Union leader : Wed Mar 12, 2014 7:36 am  

Whilst personally I thought he was simply a Union dinasaur, a throwback to the failed cummunist era, he was to his members very good value for his £145k Union salary. And if that was what he trousered, he was perfectly entitled to spend it how he likes, be it on bottles of champagne or expensive foreign cruises. Don't we all like a break in the sun during the dismal winter months here in the UK?

The former London mayor Ken Livingstone, who you would think would be a natural political ally, had accused him of running a protection racket rather than a trade union. I suspect there are many who have to use the Underground would heartily agree with him.

His response, when asked why given his salary, he did not buy his own house says it all about this guy's mindset. He choose to reside in a subsidised Housing Association property, thus denying a lower wage earner family, (who could possibly be members of his Union), the chance of a decent home, on the pretence that as he was born in a council house, he would die in one. He did not feel he had a moral duty to move out, and "Where, complained our chubby Comrade, is it written that Council Housing is only for the poor?"

Up the Workers? More like Right up the Workers, eh Bob?