Welsh government protests strike law

Counsel General for Wales, Mick Antoniw MS, has written to the UK Government to restate the Welsh Government’s strong opposition to the Strikes Act.

The letter notes the UK government is working to implement the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Act through developing guidance and has launched a formal consultation on a Code of Practice. But Antoniw says the Act is “unnecessary and probably unworkable”, with significant potential to destabilise the social partnership relationships in Wales.

He further states that the Code and “reasonable steps” for unions to implement the Act are “onerous, excessive and overly prescriptive”.

The letter also notes trade unions face prescriptive statutory guidance and the prospect of significant financial penalties, whereas employers face no such sanction.

The publication of the letter was welcomed by Wales TUC.