No2EU and Europe

[Oswyntail]

I came across this in the Times today, but it is behind a paywall, so this is the only link I could find.

Union firebrand Bob Crow is using money from his rail union to bankroll a bid to be elected to the European Parliament.
Ahead of Brussels elections in May this year, the RMT has given £35,000 to Mr Crow’s No2EU party.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...l-Bob-Crows-bizarre-bid-elected-Brussels.html
Not only does he think this is an appropriate use of Union funds, but he will not take up his seat if elected. Is there anything about this story that is at all appropriate? Does anyone on this forum think this is a sensible thing to do at any level?

 

[DarloRich]

Trades Union financially support a number of political parties and causes - Is this any different? That support is something which seems to disgust the Daily Mail. As, seemingly, does the while trades union movement However they seem less unhappy about donations to the Conservative party from non domiciled plutocrats!

That said I don’t really see the point of it all and don’t often agree with such grandstanding and would prefer all the money to spent for the benefit of the members directly but I don’t think the union has done anything wrong so long as it has followed the correct internal process as agreed by the members.

 

[Fred26]

As long as they support me when I need them I don't really care.

 

[Clip]

As long as they support me when I need them I don't really care.

You should care, whilst he says he wont take up his seat he would still be drawing a wage from it and thats not quite fair is it? Getting paid for doing nothing.

 

[Oswyntail]

Trades Union financially support a number of political parties and causes - Is this any different? That support is something which seems to disgust the Daily Mail. ...

I had hoped to find a better quote, to avoid this being tarred with the "Daily Mail" brush. And the union rules have been followed - which shows how pathetic they are. Is standing for election and then not taking up a seat in any way representing the interests of his members? Remember, if elected, he would also be representing his constituents - yes, they would have voted for what they got, but they might actually need something more active later on. Have the members actually been consulted on their attitude to Europe? Or is this, just perhaps, another wasteful publicity stunt, using money that could be better spent on members' interests.

You should care, whilst he says he wont take up his seat he would still be drawing a wage from it and thats not quite fair is it? Getting paid for doing nothing.

To be fair, the Times reported he said he would not take up the salary.

 

[Clip]

To be fair, the Times reported he said he would not take up the salary.

Wasnt sure as I dont remember them saying it in the Sun this morning( no surprise there really)

Still don tthink its right, if you want to change then change from the inside as much as possible dont just take up a seat that someone else could use to push that change

 

[Monty]

I've grown tired of Crow's games recently, I get that he supposed to be a mouthpiece but it's about time we told him to stop wasting our time and money and concentrate on the job he already has, if he wants to start getting himself elected to make political points he must resign immediately.

Times like this I wish we would split away from RMT and go back to something along the lines of the NUR.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

The thread title made me think that Bob Crow had taken a position away from Britain..hock:

 

[HST Power]

I don't have a problem with him standing for Parliament. That's his choice.

But I'm seriously starting to wonder if he's really a Tory plant, posted to infiltrate and collect data on the trade unions.

 

[Greenback]

But I'm seriously starting to wonder if he's really a Tory plant, posted to infiltrate and collect data on the trade unions.

You could be right there! He seems to eb single handedly doing a fine job in bringing the trade union movement into disrepute.

 

[Monty]

The irony is, crow being a committed socialist has set up an anti EU party. You think with his credentials he would be well up for that Kumbaya lark in Brussels.

 

[Clip]

I've grown tired of Crow's games recently, I get that he supposed to be a mouthpiece but it's about time we told him to stop wasting our time and money and concentrate on the job he already has, if he wants to start getting himself elected to make political points he must resign immediately.

Times like this I wish we would split away from RMT and go back to something along the lines of the NUR.

Well make your voice heard at your next branch meeting and find out what others in your branch think. Its the only way.

 

[transmanche]

Trades Union financially support a number of political parties and causes - Is this any different? That support is something which seems to disgust the Daily Mail. As, seemingly, does the while trades union movement However they seem less unhappy about donations to the Conservative party from non domiciled plutocrats!

Such as the owner of the Daily Mail...?

 

[DownSouth]

You should care, whilst he says he wont take up his seat he would still be drawing a wage from it and thats not quite fair is it? Getting paid for doing nothing.

He could take up the salary and have the union reduce his union salary by the same amount, to leave him breaking even and the union making a profit off the scam.

 

[telstarbox]

No2EU didn't exactly set the world on fire last time round: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No2EU#2009_European_Parliament_election

 

[meridian2]

Trades Union financially support a number of political parties and causes - Is this any different? That support is something which seems to disgust the Daily Mail. As, seemingly, does the while trades union movement However they seem less unhappy about donations to the Conservative party from non domiciled plutocrats!

That said I don’t really see the point of it all and don’t often agree with such grandstanding and would prefer all the money to spent for the benefit of the members directly but I don’t think the union has done anything wrong so long as it has followed the correct internal process as agreed by the members.

Bob Crow is free to spend the money as he pleases, and as for 'disgusting the Daily Mail'. Well it's a swipe at the EU, and Bob Crow, two anathemas for the tabloid.

 

[12CSVT]

No2EU didn't exactly set the world on fire last time round: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No2EU#2009_European_Parliament_election

They might have done better if they weren't subjected to a media blackout by the right wing tabloids.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

They might have done better if they weren't subjected to a media blackout by the right wing tabloids.

Surely you would not have expected anything else...hock:
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

That said I don’t really see the point of it all and don’t often agree with such grandstanding and would prefer all the money to spent for the benefit of the members directly.

I think that there would be many union members who would share your point of view.

 

[a729]

The irony is, crow being a committed socialist has set up an anti EU party. You think with his credentials he would be well up for that Kumbaya lark in Brussels.

Socialists in Britain were largely anti-EU in the 1970s/1980s!Just think Michael Fot
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

They might have done better if they weren't subjected to a media blackout by the right wing tabloids.

What about the Mirror ,Independent and Guardian ( I certainly wouldn't call them right wing)

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Because Bob Crow has died, this thread should be locked to my way of thinking.

 

[Jones]

Why?

You were only discussing his intentions.

I wish people would stop trying to canonize him because he died.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Why?

You were only discussing his intentions.

I wish people would stop trying to canonize him because he died.

To revert to the title of the thread, I ask how can Bob Crow go into Europe if he is dead.

 

[Greenback]

I see no reason to close a discussion on unions, politics and Europe at this time - as long as we can keep away from personal remarks.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I see no reason to close a discussion on unions, politics and Europe at this time - as long as we can keep away from personal remarks.

All I was trying to highlight was the title of the thread being somewhat overtaken by subsequent events, but of course the matter of discussion is most relevant. Perhaps a slight rewording of the thread title may be effected ?

 

[Greenback]

Yes, I will edit the thread title. Perhaps the discussion cna now focus on the No2EU party and whether it would be right for a candidate, if elected, not to take up their seat in the European Parliament. Also, of course, how much of a union's time and money should be invested in such things.