Trade Union (Wales) Act 2017

Trade Union (Wales) Act 2017

A Welsh Government Bill, introduced by Mark Drakeford MS, Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government. The Business Committee has remitted the Bill to the Equality, Local Government and Communities Committee.

 

About the Bill

According to the Explanatory Memorandum accompanying the Bill, the purpose and intended effect of the Bill is “to ensure the continued and effective delivery of public services”. It seeks “to support the social partnership agenda, through which the continuous improvement of key public services in Wales can be delivered”.

 

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:

  • 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 paid facility time;
  • restrictions on deduction of union subscriptions from wages by employers.

 

Further detail about the Bill can be found in its accompanying Explanatory Memorandum.

 

Current Stage

BillStageAct

 

The Trade Union (Wales) Act 2017 (external website) became law in Wales (external website) on 7 September 2017.

 

 

Record of Passage in the Senedd

The following table sets out the dates for each stage of the Bill’s passage through the Senedd.

 

Stage

Documents

Bill introduced: 16 January 2017

Trade Union (Wales) Bill, (PDF 59KB) as introduced

 

Explanatory Memorandum (PDF 691KB)

 

Presiding Officer’s Statement (PDF 126KB): 16.01.2017

 

Business Committee’s report on the timetable for consideration of the Bill: 16 January 2017 (PDF 54KB)

 

Correspondence from the Presiding Officer (PDF 362KB)

 

Plenary Statement: Statement by the Minister for Finance and Local Government: The Trade Union (Wales) Bill: 18 January 2017

 

Legislative glossary (PDF 63KB)

 

Research Service Bill Summary (PDF 1.03 MB)

 

 

Stage 1: Committee considerations of general principles

Committee consideration

 

Consultation responses

 

The Equality, Local Government and Communities Committee considered the Bill on the following dates:

 

Date and Agenda

Purpose of meeting

Transcript

Senedd.TV

15 December 2016

Consideration of Approach to Stage 1 Scrutiny (Private)

(Private)

(Private)

2 February 2017

Oral evidence session

Transcript

View meeting

16 February 2017

Oral evidence sessions

Transcript

View meeting

1 March 2017

Oral evidence sessions

Transcript

View meeting

9 March 2017

Oral evidence sessions

Transcript

View meeting

23 March 2017

Private discussion of report contents

 

 

29 March 2017

Private discussion of report contents

 

 

 

The Outreach Team documented the discussions of focus groups to inform the Committee’s scrutiny of the Bill.

 

The Constitutional and Legislative Affairs Committee considered the Bill on the following dates:

 

Date and Agenda

Purpose of meeting

Transcript

Senedd.TV

6 March 2017

Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government

Transcript

View meeting

27 March 2017

Private discussion of draft report

(Private)

(Private)

3 April 2017

Private discussion of draft report

(Private)

(Private)

 

Following the meeting on 6 March the:

 

 

The  Finance Committee considered the Bill on the following date:

 

Date and Agenda

Purpose of meeting

Transcript

Senedd.TV

8 February 2017

Financial implications of the Trade Union (Wales) Bill

(Private)

(Private)

 

Correspondence

 

Correspondence from the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government – 15 February 2017 (PDF 452KB)

 

Letter from the Chair of the Finance Committee to the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government – 3 March 2017 (PDF, 161KB)

 

 

Letter from the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government to the Finance Committee - 17 March 2017 (PDF, 166KB)

 

Letter from the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government – 27 March 2017 (PDF, 160 KB)

 

Committee Stage 1 Report

The Committee laid its report on 7 April 2017. (PDF 826.79 KB)

 

The Constitutional and Legislative Affairs Committee laid its report on the Bill on 7 April 2017. (PDF 797.42 KB)

 

Stage 1: Debate in Plenary on general principles

A debate took place in Plenary on 9 May 2017. The motion to agree the general principles of the Bill was agreed.

Financial Resolution

 

A Financial Resolution in relation to the Trade Union (Wales) Bill was agreed in Plenary on 9 May 2017.

 

Stage 2: Committee consideration of amendments

 

Stage 2 consideration took place in Committee on 15 June 2017.

 

Concise Minutes: 15 June 2017

 

Notice of Amendments – 16 May 2017 (PDF 59KB)

Notice of Amendments – 2 June 2017 (PDF 73 KB)

Welsh Government: Purpose and Effect Table – 2 June 2017 (PDF 204KB)

Marshalled List – 15 June 2017 (PDF 71.1KB)

Groupings of Amendments – 15 June 2017 (PDF 63.3 KB)

Trade Union (Wales) Bill, as amended at Stage 2 (Amendments to the Bill since the previous version are indicated by sidelining in the right margin) (PDF 66.1 KB)

Revised Explanatory Memorandum (PDF 694.13 KB)

 

Stage 3: Plenary consideration of amendments

 

Stage 3 consideration and disposal of amendments took place in Plenary on 11 July 2017.

 

Notice of Amendments – 4 July 2017

Marshalled List – 11 July 2017

Groupings of Amendments – 11 July 2017

Trade Union (Wales) Bill, as amended at Stage 3 (no amendments were agreed at Stage 3)

 

 

Stage 4: Passing of the Bill in Plenary

The Bill was agreed by the Assembly in accordance with SO 12.36 on 18 July 2017.

 

Bill, as passed

 

Post-stage 4

 

The four week period has ended. Letters patent for the Bill have been submitted to Her Majesty The Queen for Royal Assent.

 

The Attorney General, Counsel General and Secretary of State for Wales wrote to the Chief Executive and Clerk of the Assembly to advise that they would not be referring the Trade Union (Wales) Bill to the Supreme Court under Sections 112 or 114 of the Government of Wales Act 2006.

 

Date of Royal Assent

Royal Assent was given on 7 September 2017

 

Act Summary

 

Business type: Bill

Reason considered: Government Business;

Status: Complete

First published: 01/12/2016

Documents

Consultations