Welsh Assembly Bill to reverse elements of Trade Union Act for Wales
10 August 2017
A Welsh Government Bill has been introduced to amend provisions in the Trade Union Act 2016, including facility time and check off.
The Trade Union (Wales) Bill amends provisions in the Trade Union Act 2016 that have an adverse effect on the social partnership approach taken by the Welsh Government in Wales.
Sections 3, 13, 14 and 15 of the Trade Union Act which amend the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 impose new requirements in relation to balloting for industrial action, facility time and check off (payment of trade union subscription fees by way of a deduction by the employer from the employee’s wages).
The Bill proposes to introduce changes that dis-apply certain provisions of the UK Government’s Trade Union Act 2016 as they apply to devolved Welsh authorities. The provisions to be dis-applied are as follows:
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The 40% ballot threshold for industrial action affecting important public services
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Powers to require the publication of information on facility time and to impose requirements on public sector employers in relation to paid facility time
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Restrictions on deduction of union subscriptions from wages by employers
Further detail about the Bill can be found in its accompanying Explanatory Memorandum.