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Bob Crow

Robert "Bob" Crow (13 June 1961 – 11 March 2014) was a British trade union leader who served as the General Secretary of the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) from 2002 until his death. He was also a member of the General Council of the Trades Union Congress (TUC). A self-described "communist/socialist", he was a leading figure in the No to EU – Yes to Democracy campaign.Born in East London, Crow joined London Transport in 1977 and soon became involved in trade unionism.He was regarded as part of the "Awkward Squad" – the loose grouping of left-wing union leaders who came to power in a series of electoral victories beginning in 2002. After he became leader, the RMT's membership increased from around 57,000 in 2002 to more than 80,000 in 2008, making it one of Britain's fastest growing trade unions.Crow was a polarising figure in British politics. Supporters praised him as a champion of the working-class and a successful trade unionist; critics argued that he held London to ransom with strikes and placed union members above other working people.