Social partnership bolstered


First minister for Wales Mark Drakeford last month announced plans for a new approach in industrial relations through a Social Partnership Act. This would prioritise workers’ rights and fair employment practices, with collective bargaining central to a new relationship between government, unions and employers.


The approach endorses standards set out by the International Labour Organisation on collective bargaining and freedom of association, and Drakeford told the Welsh Assembly that “we wish to see these benefits extended to more working people here in Wales”.


The union movement welcomed the commitment to reversing the decline in collective bargaining and providing greater access for unions in the workplace.Currently, around a third of workers in Wales have their pay set through a collective agreement and unions are keen to see this increase.


The initiative reflects years of negotiations between the Welsh government, Welsh TUC and unions. Martin Mansfield, general secretary of the Wales TUC, said the approach had “an underlying recognition of partnership being the Welsh way”.