Comrade Tucker: Lifelong Trade Unionist & Socialist
I just received the news that comrade Greg Tucker passed away this morning after months of battling throat cancer. Greg was one of the first political activists that I worked with in Britain as a member of Socialist Resistance. In 2002 he fought against victimisation by the rail bosses and won his job back after being witch-hunted while a train driver for South West Trains and was one of a number of militant RMT activists who participated in the founding of the National Shop Stewards Network (NSSN).
It is always sad when we lose one of our own and Greg was certainly one of the most active members of the trade unions and far left in Britain. Needless to say he will be missed. Here is the communication from the NSSN this morning on Greg’s passing:
“Dear Friends,
Greg Tucker died at 8am this morning, Sunday 6th April.
Greg had been very ill for some months with throat cancer.
Greg supported the NSSN from its origins as part of the debate on working-class political representation within the RMT. He was a key member of the initial steering committee, and its acting organiser. Had it not been for his tragic illness, Greg would, I am sure, have remained a key officer of the NSSN during its first year.
He had recently become well enough to help to organise a national RMT Grades Conference, so, fittingly for a life-long trades unionist, was active until the very end.
I am asking Martin Wicks and Pete Firmin, the two NSSN activists who I believe will have known Greg longest politically, as well as Unjum Mirza, Glen Burrows and Andy Littlechild, RMT members of our national committee, to consider penning tributes which I can then circulate.
Dave Chapple,
National Chair Shop Stewards Network”
Jim Denham said,
April 6, 2008 at 2:45 pm
Bloody hell! I didn’t even know he’d been ill. This is terrible news. We can ill afford to lose principled socialist industrial militants like Greg. He was obviously a very bright, able articulate guy who had made a conscious decision to “stay with the class” by remaining in the rail industry rather than seeking out some more comfortable job in academia or as a full-time offical (either of which he could easily have done if he’d been willing to compromise his priciples).
Although I didn’t know him very well and was often on the opposite side of political arguments, I always found him personally friendly and unsectarian. My condolences go to his friends, family and comrades.
Dave Osler said,
April 6, 2008 at 3:04 pm
Sad news indeed. I knew Greg reasonably well in the early 1990s, when we were both members of the South London branch of the ISG. In addition to his union duties, he was at this time also a Labour councillor in Lambeth.
One petty-minded sectarias, who has long since dropped out of politics, moved his suspension from the organisation for ‘conduct unbecoming a revolutionary Marxist”; this translated into not liking the way he had voted on one specific issue on the council.
This was question of such little import that I entirely forget what was at stake; I do remember voting against , as it was patently vexacious. However, the sectarians won the day.
Typical of the man, he didn’t tear off in a huff. He served out the suspension and returned to work under the organisation’s discipline, treating those who had moved against him as if nothing had happened.
Obviously, we were not in political solidarity in recent years, but I am sure that he would not have taken things personally. He was too big for that.
Condolences to his partner Joan, and to his son from a previous relationship. Greg was one of the best.
Mick Hall said,
April 6, 2008 at 4:08 pm
A man who understood the importance of being in the same trench as the working class if you are to gain their respect and support.
A great loss, condolences to family, comrades and friends.
Jim Denham said,
April 6, 2008 at 4:16 pm
Dave’s extraordinary story about Greg’s suspension from the ISG (and – in particular – how he reacted) is news to me, but only goes to confirm everything I already thought about this admirable comrade.
modernityblog said,
April 6, 2008 at 4:32 pm
A terrible way to go, throat cancer is nasty. He was still young when I run across him about 25 years ago, smart and considerate, shame there were not more like him.
Southpawpunch said,
April 6, 2008 at 8:55 pm
I’m sorry to hear about the demise of the comrade. I have good memories of him from the Socialist Alliance, in particular. I offer my condolences to his family and friends.
Kit said,
April 6, 2008 at 9:02 pm
I remember meeting Greg at a Stop The War fringe meeting of some random RMT conference in Manchester. I gave some random speech about the school students strikes (this was a few months after “Day X”) and he came up to speak to me afterwards to ask for more details.
He said that he found people like me heartening, not only involved in the anti-war movement but also getting back into the trade unions.
I never met him since, but he always seemed like a real good egg. I have often heard about his militancy in the RMT.
My condolences go out to his family and comrades.
Sue R said,
April 6, 2008 at 9:50 pm
Sorry to hear about Greg Tucker. i remember meetings round the prefab he shared with Joan Twelves in Bow about thirty years ago. Always a very nice fellow. And we really need militants in public services now. RIP.
Mike Calvert said,
April 7, 2008 at 6:38 am
Dave,
I well remember that dispute and it does seem so silly now 20 years or so on>
Greg was a good revolutionary and a very nice guy
Greg recruited me to the SL/IMG back in 1982 or 1983 in Lambeth.
Mike
Helena said,
April 7, 2008 at 2:48 pm
I read this with shock – he was so young. We twice spent two whole days together as fellow delegates at guards’ conferences in the early eighties, and it was an experience I will never forget. RIP Greg, a great loss to the movement.
Thomas said,
April 7, 2008 at 3:29 pm
A brief tribute to Greg Tucker from one of his RMT comrades and funeral details here http://www.rmtbristol.org.uk/2008/04/greg_tucker_a_brief_appreciati.html
Greg Tucker (1953-2008) « Entdinglichung said,
April 8, 2008 at 8:35 am
[...] des International Viewpoint). Nachrufe auf ihn können u.a. auf der Seite der RMT Bristol, auf Shiraz Socialist, auf Stroppyblog und auf Dave’s Part gefunden [...]
Anne Hollifield said,
April 8, 2008 at 12:06 pm
I remember Greg from when we served together on Lambeth Council and I admired him very much. He fought the Poll Tax by refusing to pay his Poll Tax, refusing to set the Poll Tax and refusing to vote for cuts. He later supported an illegal deficit budget and was fined for the “crime” of voting against cuts when he hadn’t paid his Poll Tax – a new offence brought in by the Tories to catch Councillors standing in solidarity with the Anti-poll Tax campaign. Greg was a real dyed in the wool socialist, a class fighter who was prepared to go all the way, and a very astute tactician.
His passing is a great loss to the labour movement. My sincere condolences to Joan and those who loved him.
Anne McShane said,
April 8, 2008 at 7:53 pm
I am so shocked to hear this news. Greg was a lovely man and is a great loss to the movement. I always found him to be extremely easy to work with, very comradely even in the middle of major political rows! I worked with him in the Socialist Alliance and we were GLA candidates together. Anyway, what can I say except to express my condolences to his partner, family friends and comrades. Unfortunately as I live in Cork now I cannot come over to his funeral but my thoughts are with all those close to him.