WILKES-BARRE: The union is in a state of limbo after the company’s board refused to recognise it as a member

Workers in the textile industry have been on strike for nearly a week in Wales in protest at a deal struck between the industry and the union.

On Monday, the WILKS-Barry Group agreed to pay the union £20m in the form of dividends in the future.

But a union spokesperson said the deal was “not in the interests of workers”.WILKS was founded in the mid-1800s and employs more than 200,000 people in the UK.

The company’s majority owner is a group of Welsh businessmen who bought the company in 2014.WILKERS’ COO AND CEO BOB HENRY told the company on Sunday that the agreement was “a win for all parties involved”.

“It’s a great day for the company and its members,” he said.

“The pay will be the same as the next year, so it will be a win for everyone involved in the company.”

The WILES-Barrie General Council said it was “deeply disappointed” by the decision, adding that it had no “immediate plans” for the future of the union’s membership.

“It is clear that the company is willing to make some concessions in order to reach a negotiated settlement that will benefit all workers in the sector,” a spokesman said.

A spokesperson for the Welsh Government said it would not be commenting on the union dispute until further notice.