New Publication: Trade Union (Wales) Bill – Summary of changes at Stage 2

Published 07/07/2017   |   Last Updated 27/05/2021   |   Reading Time minutes

The Assembly’s Stage 3 consideration of the Trade Union (Wales) Bill (PDF, 60KB) is scheduled to take place in plenary on Tuesday 11 July 2017.

Stage 2 consideration of the Bill was conducted by the Equality, Local Government and Communities Committee on 15 June 2017 (PDF, 317KB).

All six amendments brought forward by the Welsh Government were agreed, while three opposition amendments were not agreed.

The Trade Union (Wales) Bill (the Bill) was introduced on 16 January 2017 by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government, Mark Drakeford AM. The Bill was introduced by the Welsh Government to amend specific provisions within the UK Trade Union Act 2016 which, in the Welsh Government’s view, will have an “adverse effect on the social partnership approach” in Wales.

The social partnership is the Welsh Government’s approach to managing public sector staff and industrial relations in public services in Wales. The provisions within the UK Trade Union Act the Welsh Government are seeking to disapply with this Bill are:

  • the provision relating to facility time;
  • the provision relating to the deduction of trade union subscription fees from employee wages; and
  • the provision relating to the 40% ballot support threshold for industrial action, affecting ‘important public services’ in Wales.

Trade Union (Wales) Bill – Summary of changes at Stage 2 (PDF, 432KB)


Article written by Osian Bowyer, National Assembly for Wales Research Service