A Workers' Wage for Union Officers!

As ammunition against our union movement, the recent Channel 4 ‘Dispatches’ program quoted the salaries of various General Secretaries, including RMT Bob Crow’s. His salary is £80,000, but the media is presenting it as £120,000 by including expenses and employer's pension contribution.

We in Tubeworker have nothing in common with Channel 4’s right wing union-baiting. We defend our unions. In this capitalist world, where working class people have to struggle for everything out of the bosses’ hands - from pay, to jobs and safe conditions - unions are vital organisations. We also defend our union leaders, whatever their salaries, because they head up our class in the fundamental fight between workers and bosses.

We produce Tubeworker to defend our unions, but we also suggest ideas for how to improve them.

One idea Tubeworker has championed for years is that union officials should be paid no more than the average wage of the industry they represent.

Janine Booth, the candidate Tubeworker is supporting in RMT's election for the executive, voted against the officers' pay rise, including that of the General Secretary, at RMT’s AGM.

Union leaders need to stay in touch with the workers they represent. They are more likely to fight vigorously for our pay and conditions if their position in society is close to our own.

Matt Wrack, General Secretary of the Fire Brigades Union, takes home around £40, 000 a year, after donating some of his salary to the union’s fighting fund. This is a big contrast to Bob Crow, whose £80,000 brings him closer to the salary and lifestyle of the managers across the table than the majority of his members.

Not only would an officials’ average workers’ wage be fairer, but it would also make our unions fight harder. So, if you feel appalled by Bob Crow’s salary, don’t turn from the union. Get involved in campaigning to change it!