Welsh members rally against Trade Union Bill

Members from across Wales held a mass rally outside the Senedd in Cardiff today, while the Welsh Assembly debated the Westminster government’s Trade Union Bill inside.

As UNISON and other union members gathered, regional secretary Margaret Thomas vowed: “We will continue to lobby elected representatives with a clear message. Let’s work together for a better future: drop the Trade Union Bill.”

This afternoon’s debate, in the names of Assembly Members Mick Antoniw, Rhodri Glyn Thomas and Peter Black, saw the assembly adopt a motion saying it “takes pride in the good relations that have been established in Wales between employers, trades unions and workers in both the public and private sector”.

It called the bill an “unnecessary attack on the democratic rights of working people”, which will undermine constructive industrial relations and risks contravening both the Human Rights Act and international law.

The motion also said the bill intrudes on devolved responsibilities of the Welsh government and ” should not be applied to Wales without the consent of the National Assembly of Wales”.

Ms Thomassaid: “UNISON commends Labour’s Mick Antoniw and other Assembly Members in bringing this motion to the floor of the Welsh Assembly.

“It comes after a very strong statement by First Minister Carwyn Jones AM against the Trade Union Bill.

“There is no appetite for this bill because it rips up good employment relations that currently exist and the positive partnership working across Wales. The Tories are out to attack the civil rights of working people.

“We will continue to lobby elected representatives with a clear message. Let’s work together for a better future: drop the Trade Union Bill.”