Welsh Conservatives have reacted with shock today (September 29) having been given sight of a letter from the Minister for Economy and Transport that suggests businesses that have received funding from the Welsh Labour-led Government during the pandemic should become unionised.
One hospitality industry insider from North Wales has described it as “blackmail”, while Welsh Conservative Members have described it as “unacceptable”.
Darren Millar MS – the Shadow Minister for Tourism and Covid Recovery – said:
“Any suggestion that businesses must have a unionised workplace in order to access Welsh Government grants is totally unacceptable and the assertion that employers who don’t recognise unions are unfair to their employees is insulting.
“Instead of being preoccupied with filling the ranks of their party’s major donors, the Welsh Labour-led Government ought to be focussing its attention on helping businesses to survive to protect the livelihoods of their employees during this unprecedented and uncertain time.”
Janet Finch-Saunders MS – the Member for Aberconwy to whom the concerns were first raised – said:
“I find any such suggestion to be outrageous and that it is grossly out of order given the many pressures faced by businesses locally during this Covid-19 pandemic.”
Mr Millar added:
“The Labour Party should stop bullying businesses, apologise for strongarming them, and give them the support they need to protect jobs.”
Notes
The letter from the Minister is attached.