Wednesday, June 15th, 2011

Union strike action reflection of anger at Westminster cuts – Plaid

Plaid Cymru AMs have said that the overwhelming support of union members for strike action is a clear reflection of the strength of feeling against vicious public sector cuts being imposed on Wales by the Tories and Lib Dems in London.  Simon Thomas, Mid and West Wales Assembly Member who speaks for Plaid Cymru on education, said that while strikes will cause a lot of disruption they are inevitable because the Labour has shown itself to be impotent in standing up to the Tory Lib Dem cuts.  He said that the UK government’s attack on teachers’ pensions shows that Plaid Cymru was right to call for Teachers’ pay and conditions to be devolved to Wales. 

Plaid Cymru Assembly Member for Carmarthen East & Dinefwr and spokesperson for local government, Rhodri Glyn Thomas, added that the onus is now on the UK government to ensure that constructive dialogue is held with unions and public sector workers to find a way forward from this.  He went on to say that if Welsh workers are to be protected in future then control over these matters should be brought under Welsh control. 

Plaid Cymru’s education spokesperson Simon Thomas said:

“Public sector workers are rightly very angry about the vicious cuts that are being imposed on them by Westminster.  I am of course concerned about the disruption that a teachers’ strike will cause for pupils and their parents, but the pressure should be put on the Westminster government to resolve this issue by negotiating with teachers and their unions.   The truth is that teachers are also being let down by the Labour opposition in London which is impotent in protecting public services and public sector workers.  Plaid Cymru believes that teachers’ pay and conditions should be devolved to Wales, so that these issues could be looked after by the more accountable Welsh government.”

Plaid Cymru AM Rhodri Glyn Thomas who speaks for the party on Local Government added:

“This action by public sector workers is a clear reflection of the strength of feeling about the savage cuts being imposed on them from Westminster, with the Labour government here in Wales sitting back and doing nothing to protect them.  The onus for now should be on the Tory Lib Dem UK government to negotiate fairly with unions and public sector workers in order to resolve these disputes.  In the longer term we need to ensure that control over these issues is brought to Wales so that decisions can be made in the interests of Welsh workers rather than on the political ideology of the London parties.”

 

ENDS / DIWEDD

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