Mick Lynch: The Making of a Working-Class Hero

This book explores the background and rise to power of Mick Lynch, the leader of the RMT union, who became a "working-class hero" by offering a robust critique of the government and providing workers with an authentic voice. It asks what qualities make Lynch a working-class hero compared to other union leaders and what leadership means for working people and the left.

Format: Hardback
Length: 280 pages
Publication date: 02 January 2024
Publisher: Manchester University Press

In the summer of 2022, a previously unknown labor leader rose to prominence as a "working-class hero." Undeterred by media pundits who underestimated him, he delivered a stinging critique of the government and gave workers a genuine voice. At a time when the Labour Party lacked a credible alternative to the Tories, Mick Lynch became the voice of the working class.

Where did Lynch originate from? How did he cultivate the skills and qualities that make him such an effective spokesperson and leader? This book, the first biography of Lynch, delves into his family and social background, as well as his ascent to the top of the RMT union, culminating in his election as General Secretary in 2021. Considering Lynch's persona and politics, this book explores what sets him apart as a working-class hero compared to other union leaders and, more broadly, what leadership means for working people and the left.

If we aspire to have better leaders at all levels, the case of Mick Lynch holds the key.

Weight: 426g
Dimension: 147 x 224 x 27 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781526173096