Media release: Rail and Maritime Transport Union

Wednesday March 12, 2014

New Zealand union mourns UK transport workers leader

The Rail and Maritime Transport Union is expressing its sorrow at the loss of international union leader Bob Crow, who died in London yesterday.

Bob was General Secretary of the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT), and was an executive board member of the global body for transport workers, the International Transport Workers Federation.

New Zealand Rail & Maritime Transport Union General Secretary Wayne Butson said that Bob was a staunch and effective advocate for transport workers in his country and globally, and his loss will be widely felt across the international transport workers community.

“I was proud to call Bob a friend and his oratory never failed to inspire me to strive harder for our members.”

“Our union has had a long association with the RMT and with Bob. He was always ready to lend a hand and commit his union’s solidarity when we needed international support.”

“Bob was an unwavering champion for the right of working men and women to have a fair days pay for a fair days work and was more than willing to walk roughshod over any employer who wished to treat their workers otherwise”.

“Bob was due to speak at our Biennial Delegates Conference later this year. Members had enjoyed hearing from him when he spoke to our conferences in the past and were looking forward to welcoming him and Nicky back to New Zealand.”

“Our deepest condolences go to Bob’s family, his workmates, and to the members of the RMT,” Wayne Butson said.

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