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Billy Hayes tells retired members of unprecedented attack on working people

23rd January 2012

CWU General Secretary Billy Hayes believes the attack being launched by the present government on working people is unprecedented in recent times.

Addressing the retired members conference in Birmingham, Billy told of a Cabinet stuffed full of millionaires cutting jobs and wages in the name of deficit reduction. "This government is failing by its own criteria of reducing the deficit," said Billy, who quoted the statistics of 67,000 job losses in the public sector and 5,000 in the private sector in the last quarter as proof of the failures. "They inherited a growing economy and have sent it toward recession."

Billy described the comments of the Labour leadership - aligning the party with the government over the cuts and public sector workers pay freeze - as "a disaster."

Billy confirmed that the NEC has committed the CWU to putting resources behind Ken Livingstone's bid to regain the London mayoralty at the elections next May.

He recalled Ken's policies of cutting fares and how he offered to exempt postal workers from the congestion charge. Then Royal Mail chief executive Adam Crozier rejected the offer.

Billy highlighted how the government had been forced to listen when the unions took action on 30 November.

He reiterated concerns expressed at the conference over the provision of social care. "We need to ensure that social care is provided where it is needed and that it is funded through general taxation," said Billy, who encouraged those present to join in the Fair Care campaign.

The CWU has signed up to the campaign which will launch at Parliament on 22 February with a lobby of MPs a month later.

Senior deputy general secretary Tony Kearns outlined "the big issue we face is the vicious attack by this government on society as we know it."

Echoing Billy's earlier comments, Tony described Ed Miliband and Ed Balls comments regarding the cuts and public sector pay freeze as "a disgrace."

Tony identified an unholy alliance of the political parties, big business and the press presenting the view that there is no alternative to the austerity programme.

He called for the unions to join with other groups in a broad alliance of resistance to the onslaught being launched by government.

Tony identified a key role for retired members because they had lived through better times, so know there is an alternative way.

Midlands regional secretary Lee Barron recalled the government's attack on working people that has seen the indices for pension and benefit rises switching form the Retail Price Index to the lower Consumer Price Index and restrictions on access to employment tribunals. "It's all about taking away the rights of workers in the name of cutting red tape," said Lee, who believes there is a level of greed prevalent in this country at the moment among the rich that has never been seen before. "Our generation should be the one that gets rid of greed and brings back fairness into society," said Lee.

During debate, there was anger expressed over a perceived attack on the elderly from cutting the winter fuel allowance and rising energy bills to pension levels and the state of residential care homes.

A motion calling for the restoration of the £50 cut in the winter fuel allowance received enthusiastic support.

Doreen Watson, Central and West Lancs, told how elderly people are being forced to either have heat or eat.

Doreen recalled 25,000 plus elderly people died last winter, claiming that such deaths were hidden.

It was also pointed out that the fuel allowance for over 80s had been cut by £100.

Supporting a motion that called for Parliament to set a maximum tariff for energy companies, Alan Speke of Greater Manchester Amal called for a stand to be made against the energy companies. "The profits these people are making are terrible," said Alan.

A motion calling for fairness in pensions received unanimous backing.

Cathy Leach for the RMAC pointed out that 2.5 million pensioners are living below the poverty line and 3.5 million in fuel poverty.

Cathy contrasted the pensioner's position with that of the likes of former Tesco's boss Terry Leahy who took home £12 million in a year.

Brian Lee of the RMAC questioned the fairness of a situation where workers are being asked to take a pay cut and yet contribute more in pensions.

Delegates addressing a motion on residential care homes called for the employment of properly qualified and remunerated staff.

John Hewitt of West London was one who called for carers to be paid a decent wage.

Doreen Watson, Central and West Lancs, told of the lost dignity of people in homes as they were left to sleep in chairs with no stimulation.

Alan Trotter for the RMAC addressed the inequality of pay in the workplace, using the case of BT chief executive Ian Livingstone, who earned £924,000 in a year, to illustrate the point. "It would take someone on an average BT grade 38 years to earn that amount," said Alan.

Another motion passed calling for report backs in the Link on the progress of motions submitted to annual conference.

There was some debate over two motions on death duty with one passing that underlined that never has this benefit been more important to the membership.