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| Thomas Cook Welsh rule 'unlawful' | Thomas Cook Welsh rule 'unlawful' |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| A ban by Thomas Cook on its staff speaking Welsh to discuss work "quite probably" breaks the law, according to the Commission for Racial Equality. | |
| The travel agents told staff in Bangor - one of the strongest Welsh-speaking areas - they must hold work-related conversations in English. | The travel agents told staff in Bangor - one of the strongest Welsh-speaking areas - they must hold work-related conversations in English. |
| The Welsh Language Society called it "disgraceful" and said it highlighted the need for a new Welsh Language Act. | The Welsh Language Society called it "disgraceful" and said it highlighted the need for a new Welsh Language Act. |
| The Welsh Assembly Government said the firm's rule was "wholly unacceptable". | The Welsh Assembly Government said the firm's rule was "wholly unacceptable". |
| It emerged last week that staff at the Gwynedd store had been asked to use only English to discuss business. | It emerged last week that staff at the Gwynedd store had been asked to use only English to discuss business. |
| A Thomas Cook spokeswoman confirmed the policy applied to all non-English languages. | A Thomas Cook spokeswoman confirmed the policy applied to all non-English languages. |
| The firm said the policy ensures "clear communication at all times" | The firm said the policy ensures "clear communication at all times" |
| A company statement said: "Thomas Cook requests that all staff speak English when discussing work-related matters in the work place. | A company statement said: "Thomas Cook requests that all staff speak English when discussing work-related matters in the work place. |
| "This ensures clear communication at all times and is respectful to team members who do not speak other languages. | "This ensures clear communication at all times and is respectful to team members who do not speak other languages. |
| "Thomas Cook employs staff from many cultural backgrounds, therefore the company appreciates its staff may want to talk to colleagues in other languages for anything that is not business related". | "Thomas Cook employs staff from many cultural backgrounds, therefore the company appreciates its staff may want to talk to colleagues in other languages for anything that is not business related". |
| The Commission for Racial Equality in Wales, will consult its lawyers on Monday, while the language society has already been in contact with the firm. | |
| Commission director Chris Myant told BBC Radio Wales that Thomas Cook's policy was "quite probably" in breach of the Race Relations Act. | Commission director Chris Myant told BBC Radio Wales that Thomas Cook's policy was "quite probably" in breach of the Race Relations Act. |
| If you've got customers coming in speaking Welsh, employees who are fluent, then they have a right to speak whatever language they wish in the workplace Hywel Griffiths, the chair of Cymdeithas Yr Iaith | If you've got customers coming in speaking Welsh, employees who are fluent, then they have a right to speak whatever language they wish in the workplace Hywel Griffiths, the chair of Cymdeithas Yr Iaith |
| He said: "It's somewhat silly. It's not something that will work in the workplace. | He said: "It's somewhat silly. It's not something that will work in the workplace. |
| "We won't make a definite statement until we've actually seen the full details. But this is something that won't run with the Race Relations Act in general." | "We won't make a definite statement until we've actually seen the full details. But this is something that won't run with the Race Relations Act in general." |
| Mr Myant said Thomas Cook managers could visit his office if they wanted to see how "you can make bilingual offices work". | Mr Myant said Thomas Cook managers could visit his office if they wanted to see how "you can make bilingual offices work". |
| Hywel Griffiths, the chair of Cymdeithas Yr Iaith, told the same programme he thought the firm's decision was "disgraceful". | Hywel Griffiths, the chair of Cymdeithas Yr Iaith, told the same programme he thought the firm's decision was "disgraceful". |
| "It really wouldn't have happened if a [new] Welsh Language Act had been in force," he said. | "It really wouldn't have happened if a [new] Welsh Language Act had been in force," he said. |
| "If you've got customers coming in speaking Welsh, employees who are fluent, then they have a right to speak whatever language they wish in the workplace." | "If you've got customers coming in speaking Welsh, employees who are fluent, then they have a right to speak whatever language they wish in the workplace." |
| 'Crass insensitivity' | |
| Plaid Cymru's parliamentary leader, Meirionnydd Nant Conwy MP Elfyn Llwyd, said Thomas Cook had showed "crass insensitivity" and deserved to be "hammered economically" if it did not change its policy. | |
| He said he would ask the Leader of the House of Commons, Jack Straw, why the firm should be the preferred supplier of travel services for members of Parliament, a contract he said was worth millions. | |
| David Rosser, director of the CBI in Wales, said there was no need for the "legislative hammer" of a new Welsh Language Act. | |
| He said: "This is highly unusual. It don't think we need a legislative hammer to crack this nut. | |
| He said: "If enough customers don't like this and take their business elsewhere - that is really how to tackle this issue." |