Billy Hayes stands up for his members even if he opposes Lab

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Billy Hayes stands up for his members even if he opposes Labour

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Billy Hayes, the general secretary of the Communication Workers Union, describes himself as passionate about the Labour Party but he has never been afraid to oppose it when he believes his members’ interests are at stake.

Mr Hayes, 56, became a postman in 1974 and has run the union since a surprise election victory in 2001, which was seen as a grassroots rebellion against plans to impose flexible working practices.

During his time in charge, he has been careful not to make the mistake of associating himself with reforms that are unpopular with the members.

As one of a younger generation of union leaders, including Bob Crow of the RMT and Mark Serwotka of the PCS, Mr Hayes has stood up to ministers with some success since becoming general secretary.

“We cannot expect good policies if we are frightened of embarrassing the Labour Government,” he said when he took over.

Seven years ago he fought off a previous attempt to bring the private sector into the Royal Mail, helping to kill a plan for a merger with TNT.

But he insists that he is not stubbornly opposed to all modernisation, saying that competition does not have to mean the end of a public postal service.

“When ITV was introduced, it didn’t stop the BBC being the best organisation in the world,” he told The Times earlier this year.