Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood has confirmed her party’s MPs will vote against the UK Government’s plans to curtail trade union activities and the rights of trade union members. Proposals published by the UK Government today will set new thresholds for industrial action and give employers the right to replace striking workers during an industrial dispute.
Plaid Cymru’s Leader Leanne Wood AM said:
“Plaid Cymru condemns in the strongest terms the latest assault on trade unions and the rights of working people by an ideologically-driven Tory government.
“Rights in the workplace were hard fought for and should be robustly defended. Such rights have been attacked by successive UK governments over several decades. The latest assault will further weaken the bargaining power of unions and their members.
“The UK has fewer public holidays, less favourable terms and conditions, lower trades union participation rates compared to many other EU states.
“I pay tribute to the trade union movement who’ve been active, vocal and determined in taking the cause of working people to the corridors of power.
“The trades unions have taken an admirable stance in defence of our social security safety net and our precious public services and against austerity and the collective punishment of the poorest.
“The most equal societies are the most successful economies. The Party of Wales wants to see our country become one where an excellent business climate goes hand in hand with high standards of employee participation, good rights and wages for workers and high levels of trade union membership.
“We must resist attempts to dismantle this vital movement for social and economic good.”