Progressive action by trade unions, bilingualism and opportunities for workers and citizens to learn Cymraeg

The Twf Charter and inclusive bilingual workplaces 

Fair work includes fair use of Welsh at work.  TUC Cymru Congress today (21 May) celebrated and welcomed the first signings of the Twf Charter in Cyngor Gwynedd and Carmarthenshire County Council, with the Welsh Government and many other organisations planning for its adoption in workplaces across Wales. 

Workplaces are strategic locations for using, promoting and facilitating increasing opportunities for workers to use and learn Welsh at work. Growing the use of Welsh in workplaces across all sectors is a key priority of Welsh Government’s ‘Cymraeg 2050’ strategy. For workers, including Welsh speaking workers, inclusive bilingual workplaces provide more opportunities to use, learn and develop their Welsh language skills at work and enables them to work in Welsh on a day-to-day basis. 

Gwawr Williams, Unison Branch Secretary for Gwynedd, Môn and Prifysgol Bangor said: 
“I am proud that we are the first branch to work with one of our employers, Cyngor Gwynedd, to be the first Local Authority to sign the TUC Cymru Twf Charter, which we welcome with open arms.

“And we want to inspire others to do the same. We in the Welsh union movement have embraced it and we have a lot of work to do together in Wales to embed fairness, equity and equality using and growing the use of Welsh at work. In Unsain Gwynedd, we have created the role of Welsh Language Representative because many other branches can benefit from this role to support their own members in trade unions across Wales. We have done it to inspire them.

“The Welsh language is part of our Welsh identity, culture and history in Wales and we treasure and cherish it.  Siarter Twf is an enabling framework that promotes, supports and facilitate ongoing growth in the use of Welsh in our workplaces across Wales. This is a matter of dignity and responsibility for all of us.” 

Dr Mandy James, TUC Cymru Bilingual Communications Officer and Welsh language policy lead stated:
“Congratulations to Cyngor Gwynedd and Carmarthenshire County Council for being the first workplaces to sign Siarter Twf. These signings demonstrate the success of working in social partnership and are already being seen as ’historical and progressive milestones’ which demonstrate shared commitment and support to grow the use of the Welsh language in our workplaces. 

“After all, dignity, equality, equity and fairness at work includes ongoing increases in the daily use of Welsh in our workplaces across Wales. Using Welsh is a valuable, practical skill and a treasure we all can celebrate and be proud of – at work and in our lives. Cymraeg belongs to us all.”  

Sian Boyles, PCS Cymru National Officer also added:
“We are proud in PCS Cymru to be supporting the adoption of the Twf Charter in all workplaces across Wales. We are also developing our own PCS ‘Welsh Offer’ and ‘Welsh Language Development Policy.”

Delegates also heard from Jane Lancastle, Prospect union Assistant Secretary and a proud Welsh language learner:
“As a Welsh learner, I am already using and promoting the value of my bilingual skills, and I am very excited about our developments which include our ‘Welsh Language Development Policy’ and ‘Welsh Offer.” 

Learning Welsh in our communities
Delegates heard from Richard Morse, Torfaen Trades Council, who highlighted the shortage in the opportunities to learn Welsh in local communities with only half the number of face-to-face classes available now compared to the situation before Covid. 

TUC Cymru supports the right of every worker and citizen to speak and use Cymraeg in their everyday lives, and this includes working increasingly through the medium of Cymraeg. 

Trade Union support progressive action by developing their own Bilingual Policies in line with the TUC Cymru Twf Charter,

Siôn Amlyn, Chair of the TUC Cymru Welsh Language Forum, highlighted the fact that: 
“The Twf Charter and its shared vision, also offers unions – at national level – a pathway and means to demonstrate their commitment, recognition and responsibilities to support, respond, and address the need to achieve linguistic justice and equitable conditions and outcomes for workers to use and learn Welsh at work.” 

Subsequently, delegates agreed that every trade union in Wales takes progressive action to develop their own Bilingual Policy in Wales.

For more information about the Twf Charter visit www.tuc.org.uk/Twf