Awkward Squad (trade unions)
Encyclopedia
The Awkward Squad is an informal grouping of socialist trade unionists in the United Kingdom
. The term was given in 2002-3 to those that opposed what they regarded as the economically liberal
policies of the ruling New Labour faction of the Labour Party
http://observer.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,,1036977,00.html. It includes such figures as Bob Crow
of the RMT
, Mark Serwotka
of the PCS
and Jeremy Dear
of the NUJ
, and has seen an increase in co-operation between unions in an attempt to set a new political agenda.
The Awkward Squad is split between those who wish to "reclaim" the Labour Party for socialism
, and those who want to break with Labour and try to build a new socialist movement. Some of the latter have already shown some support for parties, including the Scottish Socialist Party
and the Respect Coalition
. Two former members of the Awkward Squad have since lost their union posts. In July 2003, Mick Rix
of ASLEF was ousted by the moderate Shaun Brady
. Two years later, in May 2005, Andy Gilchrist, a member of the "reclaim Labour" grouping, was ousted by Matt Wrack
, who is more inclined towards building a new party. Jeremy Dear is a supporter of the Socialist Appeal
tendency within the Labour Party.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. The term was given in 2002-3 to those that opposed what they regarded as the economically liberal
Neoliberalism
Neoliberalism is a market-driven approach to economic and social policy based on neoclassical theories of economics that emphasizes the efficiency of private enterprise, liberalized trade and relatively open markets, and therefore seeks to maximize the role of the private sector in determining the...
policies of the ruling New Labour faction of the Labour Party
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
http://observer.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,,1036977,00.html. It includes such figures as Bob Crow
Bob Crow
Robert Crow , who is better known as Bob Crow, is a British trade union leader, the General Secretary of the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers and a member of the General Council of the TUC...
of the RMT
National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers
The National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers is a trade union in the United Kingdom which unionises transport workers. It has more than 80,000 members, and its current general secretary is Bob Crow...
, Mark Serwotka
Mark Serwotka
Mark Serwotka , is General Secretary of the Public and Commercial Services Union , the trade union for British civil servants.-Early life:Born into a Catholic orphanage in Cardiff, Wales, he was adopted by a Polish British father and a Welsh mother....
of the PCS
Public and Commercial Services Union
The Public and Commercial Services Union is the sixth largest trade union in the United Kingdom. Most of its members work in government departments and other public bodies although some work for private companies.- Membership and organisation :...
and Jeremy Dear
Jeremy Dear
Jeremy Dear was the General Secretary of the National Union of Journalists in Great Britain and Ireland, from 2001 to 2011.He has a reputation as one of the Awkward Squad of left-wing trade unionists. He is married to Paula Dear who is a journalist with the BBC. Jeremy Dear is a supporter of the...
of the NUJ
National Union of Journalists
The National Union of Journalists is a trade union for journalists in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. It was founded in 1907 and has 38,000 members. It is a member of the International Federation of Journalists .-Structure:...
, and has seen an increase in co-operation between unions in an attempt to set a new political agenda.
The Awkward Squad is split between those who wish to "reclaim" the Labour Party for socialism
Socialism
Socialism is an economic system characterized by social ownership of the means of production and cooperative management of the economy; or a political philosophy advocating such a system. "Social ownership" may refer to any one of, or a combination of, the following: cooperative enterprises,...
, and those who want to break with Labour and try to build a new socialist movement. Some of the latter have already shown some support for parties, including the Scottish Socialist Party
Scottish Socialist Party
The Scottish Socialist Party is a left-wing Scottish political party. Positioning itself significantly to the left of Scotland's centre-left parties, the SSP campaigns on a socialist economic platform and for Scottish independence....
and the Respect Coalition
RESPECT The Unity Coalition
Respect is a socialist political party in England and Wales founded in 2004. Its name is a contrived acronym standing for Respect, Equality, Socialism, Peace, Environmentalism, Community and Trade Unionism.-Policies:...
. Two former members of the Awkward Squad have since lost their union posts. In July 2003, Mick Rix
Mick Rix
Mick Rix is a British trade unionist and politician.-Union career:Rix is the former General Secretary of ASLEF. Rix left school at 16, and started work the next day, with no qualifications...
of ASLEF was ousted by the moderate Shaun Brady
Shaun Brady
Shaun Brady was general secretary of the Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen , the train drivers' trade union in Great Britain....
. Two years later, in May 2005, Andy Gilchrist, a member of the "reclaim Labour" grouping, was ousted by Matt Wrack
Matt Wrack
Matt Wrack is a British firefighter and trade unionist. He was elected General Secretary of the Fire Brigades Union in May 2005.Matt Wrack was born Matthew D Wrack in Manchester on 23 May 1962...
, who is more inclined towards building a new party. Jeremy Dear is a supporter of the Socialist Appeal
Socialist Appeal
Socialist Appeal is the publication of a British Trotskyist organisation operating within the Labour Party which was founded by Ted Grant and Alan Woods after they were expelled from the Militant tendency. The organisation is popularly known as the Socialist Appeal group, and publishes a monthly...
tendency within the Labour Party.
Members
- Bob CrowBob CrowRobert Crow , who is better known as Bob Crow, is a British trade union leader, the General Secretary of the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers and a member of the General Council of the TUC...
(RMTNational Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport WorkersThe National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers is a trade union in the United Kingdom which unionises transport workers. It has more than 80,000 members, and its current general secretary is Bob Crow...
) - Jeremy DearJeremy DearJeremy Dear was the General Secretary of the National Union of Journalists in Great Britain and Ireland, from 2001 to 2011.He has a reputation as one of the Awkward Squad of left-wing trade unionists. He is married to Paula Dear who is a journalist with the BBC. Jeremy Dear is a supporter of the...
(NUJNational Union of JournalistsThe National Union of Journalists is a trade union for journalists in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. It was founded in 1907 and has 38,000 members. It is a member of the International Federation of Journalists .-Structure:...
) - Billy HayesBilly Hayes (trade unionist)William Hayes is the leader of the Communication Workers' Union in the United Kingdom.-Early life:Born in Liverpool, he attended St Swithin's Secondary Modern School on Croxteth Hall Lane...
(CWUCommunication Workers Union (UK)The Communication Workers Union is the main trade union in the United Kingdom for people working for telephone, cable, DSL and postal delivery companies, with 215,000 members....
) - Paul MackneyPaul MackneyPaul Mackney is a British educator and trade union leader. From 1997 to 2006, he was General Secretary of the National Association of Teachers in Further and Higher Education...
(NATFHENational Association of Teachers in Further and Higher EducationThe National Association of Teachers in Further and Higher Education was the British trade union and professional association for people working with those above statutory school age, and primarily concerned with providing education, training or research...
) - Mark SerwotkaMark SerwotkaMark Serwotka , is General Secretary of the Public and Commercial Services Union , the trade union for British civil servants.-Early life:Born into a Catholic orphanage in Cardiff, Wales, he was adopted by a Polish British father and a Welsh mother....
(PCSPublic and Commercial Services UnionThe Public and Commercial Services Union is the sixth largest trade union in the United Kingdom. Most of its members work in government departments and other public bodies although some work for private companies.- Membership and organisation :...
) - Derek SimpsonDerek Simpson (trade unionist)Derek Simpson is the former Joint General Secretary of the UK's biggest private-sector trade union, Unite from 2007 until 2010. He was General Secretary of the Amicus trade union from 2002 until its merger with the Transport and General Workers' Union to form Unite in 2007.-Early life:Derek...
(AmicusAmicusAmicus was the United Kingdom's second-largest trade union, and the largest private sector union, formed by the merger of Manufacturing Science and Finance, the AEEU agreed in 2001, and two smaller unions, UNIFI and the GPMU...
) - Tony WoodleyTony WoodleyAnthony Woodley is a British trade unionist who was the Joint-General Secretary of the Unite union which was formed through the merger of Amicus and the Transport and General Workers Union in 2007...
(T>ransport and General Workers' UnionThe Transport and General Workers' Union, also known as the TGWU and the T&G, was one of the largest general trade unions in the United Kingdom and Ireland - where it was known as the Amalgamated Transport and General Workers' Union - with 900,000 members...
) - Matt WrackMatt WrackMatt Wrack is a British firefighter and trade unionist. He was elected General Secretary of the Fire Brigades Union in May 2005.Matt Wrack was born Matthew D Wrack in Manchester on 23 May 1962...
(FBUFire Brigades UnionThe Fire Brigades Union is a trade union in the United Kingdom for wholetime Firefighters , Retained Duty System and Emergency Control Room staff...
)
Quotes
- "It's a well known secret that many of us meet up to discuss. We'll support each other on specific issues and follow each other's lead." (Andy Gilchrist)