Skates hits out over union blacklists

Clwyd South Assembly Member Ken Skates has called on the Welsh Government and local councils to ban companies holding union blacklists from being awarded public sector contracts in North Wales.

Earlier this year an investigation by the GMB into the construction industry revealed at least 111 workers from Wales on an illegal ‘blacklist’ of employees that belonged to a trade union.  The list was being used by some construction firms to prevent them from getting work.

 

It is believed 39 of those workers were from North Wales, with the majority unaware their personal data was being collated and used against them.

 

The Labour AM (pictured right) is calling on the Welsh Government and local councils not to award public sector contracts to any firm known to blacklist workers.

 

Mr Skates said: “It is shocking that some companies have chosen to illegally blacklist some workers because they are a member of a trade union.  This is the kind of spiteful practice that we all thought had died out many years ago.

 

“There were a lot of workers identified from North Wales on the construction list uncovered recently by the GMB, something that is very concerning indeed.  Construction is an important industry in North Wales and many families rely on it for their household income.

 

“The use of blacklists is totally unacceptable.  Construction is an industry that is heavily contract based, making workers in this sector a particular target for these kinds of practices. 

 

“I believe the Welsh Government and local councils should now work together to use their significant procurement powers to prevent any company that is known to have held a blacklist from winning public sector contracts in North Wales.

“Any that have held lists in the past should compensate workers they have discriminated against and take clear steps to demonstrate they do not blacklist workers known to a member of a trade union.

 

“Why should taxpayers money be used to subsidise companies that flout the law and blacklist hard-working people in the construction trade, or any other industry, that is a member of a trade union?

“We need to work together to stamp out this unscrupulous practice which is bad for local workers and bad for the local economy too.”

 

The Welsh Government has said its officials are currently considering the measures available to strengthen procurement policy and eradicate the unacceptable practice of blacklisting.  

 

They will shortly be issuing new guidance to all public bodies in Wales in relation to selecting suppliers, setting contract conditions and managing delivery of procurement.

 

Blacklisting was revealed in 2009 when the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) seized a database of 3,213 names of construction workers and environmental activists used by over 40 companies.

Skates calls for law change to help small pubs

Clwyd South Assembly Member Kern Skates has called for a change in the law to help out small pubs in his constituency.

 

The AM is calling on the UK Government to reform the ‘tied model’ operated by large pub owning companies.

 

Around 1/3 of pubs in the UK are owned by large pub companies who then lease the pubs out to tenants to run as their own businesses. These pubs are contractually obliged to buy their beer only from the pub company, preventing pub licensees buying on the open market. 

 

This is known as ‘the tie’.

 

The AM said the fundamental problem is that large pub companies take too much of a pub’s profits and is calling for legislation to ensure fair rents and fair beer prices to help local pubs in his constituency.

 

Mr Skates said: “The traditional local pub is going through a very difficult time at the moment.  Unreasonably high beer prices and inflated rents have caused the closure of hundreds of pubs right across North Wales.  Drinking habits are also changing and the competition of local supermarkets is very intense. 

 

“Nevertheless there can be a bright future for the village pub, but we need the help of the UK Government and large pub companies to help achieve this.

 

“We need the UK Government to introduce a new statutory code of practice for large companies that will enshrine in law the long accepted but largely ignored principle that the tied licensee should not be worse off than a free of tie licensee when it came to issues such as beer pricing.  This would allow them to pay a price for beer and drinks that would help them make a sustainable profit.

 

“Rents need to change, too.  It would be much easier for small pubs tied to big chains if their tenants were allowed to pay a reasonable market rent.  For those renting from companies with 500 or more pubs on their books they should be allowed to pay a fair, independently assessed market rent.

 

“Such a system is simple and cheap to administer and would give tied licensees the choice as to whether to pay fair rent only or a lower rent and higher beer prices.”

 

The latest Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers Benchmarking Survey showed that tied rents are actually higher than rents for free of tie pubs. So many tied tenants are effectively being charged double.

 

The AM added: “We’ve got some fantastic pubs in my constituency, from the recently re-opened Tyn-Y-Capel co-operative pub in Minera to the Buck House Hotel in Bangor-on-Dee, which has now started re-selling Wrexham Lager for the first time in over a decade.

 

“We now need sensible reform of the tied system to ensure those local pubs linked to a big brewery can continue to turn a profit and have a fair chance of staying open in the next few years.”

 

Mr Skates is backing the ‘Fair Deal for Your Local’ campaign led by CAMRA, The Campaign for Real Ale.

Llan firefighters attend chemical incident at Kronospan

* Kronospan at Chirk where the incident took place.

Fire cews today (Thursday) attended a chemical incident at Kronospan Ltd on Holyhead Road, Chirk.

The incident involved a chemical spillage from a road tanker arriving at the site.

North Wales Fire and Rescue Service says it received the call at 10.06hrs this morning and crews from Chirk, Llangollen, Wrexham and Deeside as well as the Environmental Protection Unit and Incident Support Unit are on site dealing with the incident.

No one has been hurt in the incident.

Firefighters have been working with specialists and the chemical has now been transferred to a new tanker.

Equipment from the specialist Environmental Protection Unit was used as a precautionary measure.

Crews are currently still at the scene but the incident has now been closed.

Ian Williams, Head of Response for North Wales Fire and Rescue Service, said: “Crews worked well with firefighting staff onsite to contain the spillage and were able to assist specialist staff with the transfer of the chemical to a new vehicle.

“This incident has once again demonstrates the importance of partnership working and good working practices between local companies and the emergency services.”

Welsh national military museum being considered

The Welsh Minister for Culture and Sport has agreed to consider the establishment of a Welsh National Military Museum following calls from Clwyd West AM Darren Millar.

Speaking in the Senedd, Mr Millar said a Welsh National Military Museum would be a fitting tribute to commemorate the rich Welsh heritage in the armed forces and to mark the centenary of the First World War.

Mr Millar, who is chair of the Cross Party Group on the Armed Forces, said: “I very much welcome the fact that the Minister has indicated that he is prepared to consider the establishment of a National Military Museum.

“The UK Government has already established a programme of commemorative events to mark the centenary of the start of  the 1914 -18 World War, which resulted in the deaths of 40,000 forces personnel from Wales and it would be great if Ministers in Cardiff Bay could follow this lead.

“There are already a series of smaller military collections across Wales, including in Brecon, Caernarfon, Carmarthen and in Cardiff Castle, but there is no provision for a National Military Museum.

"It is impossible to overstate the massive contribution that our armed forces make to keeping our nation safe, often at great personal risk, and their professionalism and courage sets an example to young people across Wales. It is only right that we should show our appreciation and admiration in every way possible and establishing a National Military Museum  would do just that.”

Women's festival to hand over cash raised to charities

 

 * Dani Chamberlain as Agnetha and Jo Potts as Anni-Frid in the Abba tribute at the festival.

 

Organisers of the Women's Festival of Music & Arts staged in Llangollen on May 10-12 are to hand over the money raised during the highly successful event to various charities at a presentation later this month.

 

The festival's Facebook Page says: 

 

"We are pleased to announce that the Women's Festival of Music & Arts 2013 in Llangollen Town Hall, raised enough money to be able to present £1000 to this year's designated charities, MIND & AVOW, local mental health services, to be shared equally as £500 each. Thanks to everyone who took part, and the audiences who came. The formal presentation will take place at The Ty'n Y Wern Hotel, Llangollen, at 4pm on Sunday, June 16th. Absolutely everybody is welcome. We've booked the Hotel from 3pm until 6pm, bar and snacks are available. Let's make it a great afternoon."

Women's Festival Of Music & Arts Llangollen May 10th, 11th & 12th - 2013

 

Help for small music venues

The Manchester Evening News carries a story which might be of interest to small music venues in Llangollen.

It can be viewed at:

http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/business/innovation/web-ticket-manager-creates-virtual-4050377

Welsh Government report reviews past year

The second Annual Report from the Welsh Government which has just been published allows the public to scrutinise how the Welsh Government is delivering on the commitments made in the Programme for Government.

It sets out 340 indicators of performance and updating on 547 actions and says that in the last year the Welsh Government has:

• Created 4,000 job opportunities to help young unemployed people into work through the Jobs Growth Wales programme and supported 1,500 young people into apprenticeships through the Pathways to Apprenticeship programme.
• Boosted investment in infrastructure by some £900million through the Welsh Infrastructure Investment Plan, supporting innovative initiatives in transport, education and housing.
• Invested £400million to deliver high-speed broadband across the country with support from the European Regional Development Fund.
• Supported our poorest communities by setting aside £22million to ensure those eligible will still receive full council tax support, providing nearly 2,500 extra affordable homes and re-launching the Communities First programme to focus on health, learning and prosperity.
• Improved school attendance rates and continued to support teachers to provide the best learning environment.
• Provided easier access to health services, with nine out of ten GP surgeries offering early evening appointments at least two nights a week.
• Recruited an additional 400 Police Community Support Officers, helping people to feel safer in their communities.
• Led the way in the UK on recycling, with 48.5 per cent recycling rates in 2011 which continues to increase, with people now recycling more than they are sending to landfill.

First Minister, Carwyn Jones said: “Our annual report shows real progress made in delivering on our promises on the issues that really matter to the people of Wales. It gives an honest account of how Wales is responding to the twin challenges of the global economy and the austerity and welfare policies of the UK Government.

“We are focused on the economy, attracting businesses to Wales, improving infrastructure, up-skilling the workforce and creating job opportunities, but we haven’t let our attention in other areas slip.

“We continue to make progress in health and education and have redoubled our efforts to do all we can to help the poorest and most vulnerable people in Wales in the face of UK Government reforms.

“However, we cannot ignore the fact that our budget continues to be squeezed and we have some tough choices to make. We cannot continue to finance all the projects which have received funding in the past. We will need to prioritise to ensure the future of those public services we all rely on – health, education and job creation.

"We remain committed to making this country a more resilient and competitive place. We will continue to stand up for and deliver for the people of Wales.”