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TUC Cymru celebrates Welsh culture and workers’ rights at National Eisteddfod
From creative industry concerns to Welsh language promotion in unions, this year's festival showcases the intersection of culture and labour, offering insights into Wales’ past and future struggles, writes TUC Cymru president SIAN GALE
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I’ve been much looking forward to visiting the National Eisteddfod of Wales 2024 at Pontypridd, Rhondda Cynon Taf this year between August 3 and 10. This annual event to celebrate the culture and language of Wales is the biggest of its kind in Europe.
Despite the celebrations, the creative unions in Wales are very concerned about the future of the creative industries in terms of work opportunities, training and education for the future workforce, as well as for those already working within the sector. Look out for a statement later this week!
As the Wales TUC celebrates its fiftieth birthday, I’m really looking forward to the many panel sessions that we’ll be holding over the week to openly discuss the issues that are important to us as unions and to our communities across the nation. Translation equipment will be available for non-Welsh speakers.
An event that may be of interest to Morning Star readers is the session: ‘Unions, Fair Work and the Welsh Language’. My fellow trade unionist Meic Birtwistle from the NUJ will be discussing: ‘The Valleys: Trade Unionism and the Welsh Language’, revealing the close connection between the Welsh-speaking workforce of the Valleys and trade unionism during the 18th and 19th centuries and the battle for fair working conditions. The Welsh language was the main means of communication - most of these workers could not speak, nor even understand English.
Things have changed quite a bit since then and the number of Welsh speakers in the region fell considerably, but the good news is that it is rising again because of the huge increase in Welsh language education in this region. When I was at secondary school in the 1970s I had to travel 10 miles from Cardiff to Rhydfelen near Pontypridd in order to receive Welsh-medium education, and some travelled even further – from South West Wales. The county was at the forefront. Sadly, the need to campaign continues in neighbouring valleys as the people of Merthyr Tydfil County County Council are still fighting for a Welsh medium secondary school for their children.
As the battle for our language continues, TUC Cymru, thanks to money from the Welsh Government, is working with trade unions to help them to support and provide services through the medium of Welsh to their members. We are also supporting union representatives in discussing Welsh language rights in the workplace with employers. Please contact mjames@tuc.org.uk for further information.
So please remember that there is a warm welcome to all at the National Eisteddfod 2024. If you are unable to attend in person you can watch the festival for free on S4C.
For further information about our events please visit: https://www.tuc.org.uk/wales-events
For further information about our events please visit www.tuc.org.uk/wales-events.
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From cultural celebrations to political discussions, the paper’s Welsh supplement and fringe events showcase its commitment to Wales — offering perspectives on independence, workers’ rights and more, writes DAVID NICHOLSON