BILLYS SPEECH TO MANCHESTER TRADES COUNCIL MAY DAY RALLY

[TrueBlueTerrier]

SPEECH TO MANCHESTER TRADES COUNCIL MAY DAY RALLY

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12.00 ASSEMBLE ALL SAINTS PARK, OXFORD ROAD
2.00 PM SPEAKERS – CASTLEFIELD ARENA
LIVERPOOL ROAD

MONDAY 4TH MAY 2009

I bring greetings to this May Day Rally, on behalf of the 230,000 members of the Communication Workers Union.

May Day is the time when we celebrate the contribution and struggle of workers and oppressed people across the globe.

Now more than ever, it is necessary to organise in defence of the workers, peasants, and poor people who make up the vast majority of the world’s population.


The recession and the economy is being used as an excuse to cut wages, create unemployment, cut back welfare, and promote the many forms of discrimination.

We meet today, as representatives of organised workers, members of faith communities, and representatives of local communities.

We must do honour to May Day by committing ourselves anew to struggle against unemployment, poverty, exploitation, racism, and imperialist wars.


The old slogan that “unity is strength” is a true slogan. Together we can tackle the many problems that face our community, our society, our world.

There are many rich and powerful people who try to convince you that you cannot change anything. –

That things are as good as they can be.

That you should leave politics to the politicians. That your efforts are feeble and useless.


Remember, every substantial change in our society has come about because of the efforts of people like you.

The right to vote; the freedom of assembly; freedom of speech; the right to be a member of a trade union; freedom of conscience or religious observance – all these exist because your ancestors in this, and other movements, organised and fought.

They did not do so just for themselves, but also for their descendants. –

You are the children of women and men who were great warriors for peace, justice, freedom, equality, and social progress. May Day is the time to honour such fighters.

Can I just ask you all to remember one such warrior – Jack Jones. He fought for the workers and the poor. He lived modestly. He risked his limbs and life for the people of Spain, though he was not born there. Let his struggle be an example to us all.

Now, there are two things I need to share with you today.
First, I must tell you about the campaign of the CWU against the privatisation of Royal Mail.

Postal workers want to keep Royal Mail as a public service. At the moment, the Government seems intent on selling part of the industry to a private company.

Now, you would think that the recession would give the Government reason to reconsider.

After all, the recession in good part, is due to the failure of the neo-liberal policies which have dominated politics for the last thirty years.


Privatisation and deregulation have had their day. They resulted in the bankruptcy of most the financial institutions. Only the Government could protect the entire banking industry from collapse. So much for the wisdom of the financial masters of the Universe.

Yet we are expected to continue with such a policy for a state industry which has over 350 years of successful public service to its credit. We have to say to the Government, that it was the private sector that you had to bail out. Don’t tell us that there is some magic formula for economic success in that sector today. We know better than that.


Privatisation of Royal Mail would lead to poorer services, more expensive services, unnecessary job losses, insecure employment and worse terms and conditions for postal workers.

We are fighting against this. We are campaigning inside and outside Parliament. And we are giving the Government reason to worry. –

This week we have launched a nationwide campaigning tour. –


Starting in Scotland, with a weeks activity throughout Scotland leading to a demonstration in Gordon Brown’s constituency next Saturday. –

There are to be events in Manchester and the surrounding area which we hope you will support.

There is a week of events from 18th May – 23rd May in the North West – contact the local CWU Branch for more details.

Your support and involvement is crucial to our campaign.

Now the other issue which I have to speak on is the forthcoming European Elections on June 4th.


It is likely that we will have different views at this rally as to who to vote for. That is an important discussion. My Union will be calling for a Labour vote because we think that is the best option for making progress in the European Parliament.

But I do not want to divide this rally between those who support Labour, and those who don’t.

My main message is to vote. Not just because it is your duty as citizens. But because your vote is a weapon against the rise of fascism.


The higher the turnout of votes, the more difficult it is for the British National Party to get an MEP.

The voting system on June 4th is based on percentages. The higher the turnout the greater the number of votes that have to be won to secure a winning percentage.

In the 2004 European elections, the BNP got 6.4% of the vote in this region. If it gets 8% in 2009, then the BNP will have an MEP in your region.

You must vote. You must get family and friends to vote. If your family and friends are not registered to vote then make it your job to persuade them to register quickly. The more people who vote then the higher the number of votes the BNP have to get to reach 8%.

Many people do not yet understand that the BNP is a Nazi party. But the BNP are clear – they want an all-white Britain.

This can only be achieved through a terrible Civil War. That is what happened in Germany, under Hitler; in Spain, under Franco; in Italy, under Mussolini. That is the type of party that the BNP is.

The BNP hates black people, and especially Muslims. The BNP will attack Jews, though they keep quiet on this at the moment. The BNP will attack lesbians and gays, the disabled, Roma, trade unions, socialists and left wing parties. That is what the Nazis did. They exterminated such people.

People like you. This is a life and death issue.


Between now and June 4th, do everything you can to get your community to vote – and vote against the fascist BNP.

Good luck in all your struggles. Thank you to the Manchester Trades Council for the privilege of addressing you, and thank you for listening.

Posted by Billy Hayes | @ Mon, 4 May 2009 14:51:24 +0100

[stokes11eg]

Eh? Is the term peasent still used to describe farmers? A rather mixed up speech, and I'm glad I wasn't in the
audience.

[Tman]

Yes, that's true "peasants" he's been reading Old Joe's speeches again for inspiration..

It's a shame old Billy boy didn't stick to the union line rather than crapping on about the BNP.

Maybe you should "leave politics to the politicians" too, Bill?

[stokes11eg]

Yes, that's true "peasants" he's been reading Old Joe's speeches again for inspiration..

It's a shame old Billy boy didn't stick to the union line rather than crapping on about the BNP.

Maybe you should "leave politics to the politicians" too, Bill?

Aye, and I just lovethe way he is bringing up the rear----he should have been doing all this months ago--he seems to be jumping on OUR bandwagon-----

[General Mannerheim]

Not many posties around in Manchester at 2.00pm as they are all busy doing the 4.5hrs delivery rounds as agreed with a divisional rep and a PEC member.
Wonder if Billy boy had a word in their ear???

[stokes11eg]

Not many posties around in Manchester at 2.00pm as they are all busy doing the 4.5hrs delivery rounds as agreed with a divisional rep and a PEC member.
Wonder if Billy boy had a word in their ear???

I've read it a few times time,and I keep getting a picture of Bumbling Billys' speech!Hardly Inspirational!
Wish somebody had filmed it!!