Increasing the use of Welsh strengthens UCU Bangor

Over 60% of the employees at Bangor University speak Welsh and the University as an employer communicates with us bilingually. So, I understood why members and colleagues said there was something awkward about the fact that the union didn’t communicate with them through the medium of Welsh.

Some members of the workforce wanted to join a union, but didn’t want to join UCU because the branch didn’t communicate in Welsh. They felt that UCU was an English union so it felt difficult for them to consider joining our union.

Small steps to create big change

When I was elected as President in 2018 it felt like the right time to try and change how the Welsh language was used within the branch. My colleagues on the committee were keen to change this as well.

The first thing we did was to develop a bilingual language policy for the branch. This included communicating bilingually in writing at all times and holding meetings bilingually. This included the use of simultaneous translation.

If this is not possible I chair the meeting bilingually. I invite Welsh speakers and learners to contribute in Welsh, and summarise the comments in English.

We also created the position of Bilingual Officer within the branch. This is an elected post with specific responsibility for promoting the Welsh language within the branch and helping with the branch's translation work. 

We negotiated for an agreement with the University for this role which freed up someone to promote the use of Welsh as well as do case work. This position, and the importance of promoting the language, is now part of our Collective Agreement with the University.

Watch Dyfrig talk about UCU Bangor's Welsh language journey: 

UCU Bangor now belongs to everyone 

We have received positive feedback from members who are Welsh speakers and non-Welsh speakers. The entire membership is grateful and appreciative of the fact that we have increased the use of Welsh within the branch.

Since making these changes I have heard members say that the UCU Bangor branch is now more welcoming to them as Welsh speakers. They also feel that the union is relevant and belongs to them.

The role of learners in promoting the Welsh language

Some of our members who are most supportive of increasing our use of Welsh were the large number of members who did not speak Welsh, or were learners themselves. They realise how important it was for the branch to increase its use of Welsh from a recruitment point of view. And also to recognise the importance of the Welsh language within the Labour movement. 

There’s a lot of support for the Welsh language from people who are learners. Some of the learners on our committee were Helena from Spain and Karin from Germany. They were enthusiastic increasing our use of Welsh within the branch. Some of our members saw them on their Welsh language learning journeys and were inspired to learn and use more Welsh themselves.  

Encouraging learners to contribute to meetings is also a good way to show everyone that what’s important is using the language you’ve got, not worrying about what standard your Welsh is. This builds the confidence of learners and new speakers and strengthens the position of Welsh within the workplace.

Increasing the use of Welsh can help with member recruitment and retention

It’s essential that unions recognises the importance of Welsh within a workforce with a high percentage of Welsh speakers. If they don’t they risk alienating Welsh speakers and losing potential members.

However, consideration of the Welsh language is also extremely important in workplaces where there are a low number of Welsh speakers. An inclusive workplace that supports Welsh speakers and learners is absolutely necessary in terms of linguistic and social justice. It shows that you have a fair approach based on equity and respect for bilingual skills that are valuable within employment.

Increasing and supporting the use of the Welsh language is something that every branch can do. You can start your meetings with a "good morning" and use "thank you" in your emails, for example.  

Even taking small steps can help you as a branch to increase your relationship with your Welsh speaking members. It helps to normalise the use of Welsh language in workplaces across Wales.

It also fosters Welsh culture and promotes equality for Welsh speakers and learners. In a bilingual country, this is essential.

Next Steps

Ready to increase the use of Welsh in your branch and workplace? Here are some useful resources from TUC Cymru:

•    Read about your right to use Welsh in the workplace
•    Download our rights leaflet to raise the topic with your colleagues
•    Find out about Twf - The Welsh at Work Charter and how workers, their trade union branches and employers can work together to support the provision of inclusive bilingual workplaces and growth in the use of Welsh at work.  
•    Read about the support TUC Cymru can give to trade unions on their Welsh-language journeys