MP urges UK Government to follow Wales’ ‘different approach’ to resolve industrial disputes

A Labour MP has urged the UK Government to ‘take note of how things are being done differently and successfully’ in Wales.
Speaking in favour of her amendments to the controversial anti-Strikes legislation, which seek to exclude Wales from the Bill’s application, Beth Winter said: “This legislation before the Commons has been introduced without any discussion with Welsh Government.
“It’s been introduced despite it conflicting with the Social Partnership Bill before the Senedd.
“Now, a different approach is being taken in Wales and I urge the opposition benches to take note of how things are being done differently and successfully in Wales.
“It is an approach that fosters collaboration and co-operation between government employers and workers. It is encapsulated in the Social Partnership Bill, which places partnership working on a statutory footing and it really does work.”
The Cynon Valley MP added: “It is this partnership approach that meant Welsh Government and Transport for Wales were able to recently successfully negotiate a pay settlement that was accepted by the RMT.”
Plaid Cyrmu
Plaid Cymru has also tabled an amendment which would prevent the the Secretary of State from being able to make consequential amendment to an Act or Measure of Senedd Cymru – meaning that the UK Government would have no right to interfere with Welsh workers’ rights protections.
The Labour Party has also to put forward an amendment aimed at safeguarding unfair dismissal protections it says are threatened by the legislation.
More than 50 pages of amendments have been tabled for the Bill’s committee stage, including an SNP bid to rename it the “Anti-Strikes (Forced Working) Bill”.
Earlier this month, striking NHS workers refused the Welsh Government’s offer of a one-off payment to end their strike action over pay.
Support our Nation today
For the price of a cup of coffee a month you can help us create an independent, not-for-profit, national news service for the people of Wales, by the people of Wales.
Annwyl ffrindiau, rwy’n eriod wedo bod yn y Streik Gweithiais i mewn ferm yn y’r Almaen pan ro’n’in plentyn. Ces i ddim llawer o ysgol hep A-Level Evening ysgol. Ac wedyn es i Cymru am Gweithio mewn ffatri. Ac wedyn eistudiais i Cymraeg yn y Prifasgol yng Nghymru. Nawr rwy’n bwy yn Lydau heb arian ‘Social benefits bob dydd. Af i mynd estudio Cymraeg ag Lydaweg yn Lwydau. Rwy’n eisiau ennill arian gyda Cymreag yn Lydau. Rwy’n 65 oed.Alte deutsche Deryn
Gar nicht so alt Ursula. Du bist ein Kanone wirklich.!
Although a noble call, Beth Winter is also making a big assumption, that the UK Gov actually care, and want to settle these disputes, while every move they have made has prolonged the industrial action. They even admit that it has costed more to continue the rail strike, than it would have costed to settle. They care nothing of workers rights or standards of living. They will not change.
The Uk has the most repressive Trade Union legislation in Europe which began back in The Days of Thatcher.It is OK for Labour to call this out in opposition but Blair’s government continued with the Anti Trade Union legislation passed by Thatcher. So Trade Union’s shouldn’t expect any favours from Sir Kier considering his silence on the current disputes.