Plaid Cymru has responded with shock and anger at the news that Labour are threatening 10,000 workers in Rhondda Cynon Taff with a ‘lock-out.’ The Labour-run council has by-passed trades unions and is forcing staff to accept lower terms and conditions of employment without any negotiations.
They are also refusing to rule out compulsory redundancies. Plaid Cymru AM Leanne Wood has said that union members have every right to be angry and has backed the GMB’s calls for the council to lift their threat of a lock-out before meaningful talks can be held.
Plaid Cymru AM for South Wales Central Leanne Wood AM said:
“This is outrageous right-wing behaviour by the Labour party in Rhondda Cynon Taff. Compulsory redundancies have not been ruled out and the Labour leadership on the council has ensured that the unions are shut out of any meaningful discussions about the future of the staff. Labour is the only party to have done this in Wales – first in Neath and now in Rhondda Cynon Taf.
“The Tories have taken similar action in England but not even they have dared to do the same in Wales. The Plaid group on the council have battled to prevent this non-negotiable down-grade of workers’ terms and conditions, but the ruling Labour group ensured changes were voted through.
“Before the last election, Labour were telling people that only they could stop the Tories. Now they are behaving exactly like them.”
Cllr Lindsay Whittle, the Plaid Cymru leader of neighbouring Caerphilly council said:
“This decision by the Labour leadership of Rhondda Cynon Taff is unbelievable and totally irresponsible. At precisely the time when council staff are already concerned about their jobs, Labour in RCT are putting the knives in their backs. This is not the way to treat hard-working and loyal workers who are making a tremendous contribution to their area. This decision will only serve to destroy morale and productivity.
“All local authorities are acutely aware that times are tough as a result of the Tory and Lib-Dem cuts in Westminster. We will all have to make tough decisions, but that is no excuse for riding roughshod over staff and their trade unions and for showing such little respect for them or their communities.
“The question now is will the Labour leader in Wales, Carwyn Jones, condone this behaviour or has he already given his approval to RCT’s plans?”
