A momentous achievement for the trade union movement in Wales

20 July 2017

A momentous achievement for the trade union movement in Wales

UCAC welcomes the result of the vote in the Senedd yesterday that overwhelmingly supported and passed the Trade Union (Wales) Bill. At the final vote (known as Stage 4), we saw 38 AMs vote in favour, with 13 AMs voting against and no abstentions. 
 
This is a momentous achievement for the whole of the trade union movement in Wales, particularly for our social partnership approach of working with government and public sector employers in dealing with disagreements before they become disputes. The Bill is also a testament of the success of devolution in Wales, where we have a government that recognises the importance of working with trade unions in strengthening our public sector.   
 
In summary, the Trade Union (Wales) Bill – which will now go onto receive Royal Assent before becoming law in Wales – will disapply 3 core sections of the UK Government’s divisive and pernicious Trade Union Act 2016 in relation to the devolved public sector (eg: education, health, local government and fire & rescue services). The 3 sections that will be disapplied are as follows:
  • The 40% ballot threshold for industrial action affecting important public services;
  • Powers to require the publication of information on facility time and to impose requirements on public sector employers in relation to facility time duties;
  • Restrictions on deduction of union subscriptions from wages by employers (“check-off”).
The Bill also enshrines and re-emphasises the current law in place relating to the use of temporary/agency workers during industrial action, ensuring that any moves in the future by the UK Government to alter the current law in this area will not apply to Wales.
 
A copy of the Bill, as passed by the Assembly, can be found here.
 
If you have any further enquiries or questions, please contact us.