TUC Cymru Congress backs growth of Welsh language in workplaces across Wales

TUC Cymru Congress has welcomed the first signings of the Twf Charter in Cyngor Gwynedd and Carmarthenshire County Council, as trade unions and employers look to expand opportunities for workers to use and learn Welsh in the workplace.

The TUC Cymru Twf Charter – The Welsh Language at Work Charter – aims to support workers, trade union branches and employers in creating inclusive bilingual workplaces and increasing the use of Welsh at work.

The initiative forms part of the Welsh Government’s ‘Cymraeg 2050’ strategy, which seeks to grow the number of Welsh speakers and expand opportunities to use the language in everyday settings, including workplaces.

Congress also recognised calls for trade unions to develop their own bilingual policies to demonstrate commitment to linguistic equality in Wales.

TUC Cymru said workplaces were “strategic locations” for promoting the Welsh language and providing workers with opportunities to use, learn and develop Welsh language skills 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.”

He added: “The Welsh language is part of our Welsh identity, culture and history in Wales and we treasure and cherish it.”