Awkward Squad

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The phrase Awkward Squad is commonly used to refer to any grouping of individuals, usually within an existing organisation or structure, who come together with a common aim of resisting the leadership or overturning the status quo.

1 Origin
2 Modern usage
- 2.1 Quote
- 2.2 Members
3 References
- 3.1 Trades' union 'awkward squad'
- 3.2 Other uses of the phrase

[edit] Origin

The phrase appears to originate around the late 19th century centuries in military slang, and was applied to a troop of recruits who were not yet sufficiently trained or disciplined for their duties [1] [2].

[edit] Modern usage

Most notably in recent years, the name Awkward Squad was given in 2002/2003 to an informal grouping of left-leaning British trade unionists who opposed what they regarded as the neo-liberal policies of the ruling New Labour faction of the Labour Party [3]. 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.

In a series of leadership elections, union members elected candidates who stood for a return the traditional function of trade unions - to stand up for their members' interests even if that brought them into conflict with a Labour government - and were openly critical of what many of them regarded as Tony Blair's continuation of Thatcherism. Some have also taken up a wider, left-wing internationalist political agenda, by, for example, speaking out against the 2003 Invasion of Iraq and in support of the Palestinians' struggle against Israel.

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 mass movement. Some of the latter have already shown some support for parties other than Labour, 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 a right-winger, Shaun Brady, in a surprise election result, after assuming his position was so secure he didn't need to campaign for re-election [4]. Two years later in May 2005, in the prolonged aftermath of a bitter industrial despute involving firefighters, Andy Gilchrist of the FBU, a member of the "reclaim Labour" grouping, was ousted by Matt Wrack who is more inclined towards building a new party [5].

[edit] Quote

"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)