DEVOLVED public services in Wales such as the NHS, local government and schools will be exempt from new rules restricting the powers of trade unions if a Welsh Government bill is approved.

The bill introduced today, Monday, would reverse the effect of the UK Government’s Trade Union Act, which was passed last year and imposes restrictions such as only allowing strike action when at least 50 per cent of union members take part in a ballot, and requiring at least 40 per cent support for industrial action in ‘important public services’ such as health, education and transport.

Although the act, which is due to come into force at the start of March, is intended to prevent action from being taking without widespread support of members, critics have claimed it curbs workers’ powers. And the Welsh Government bill would mean it does not apply to devolved areas such as the NHS and local government.

Calling the act “damaging and divisive”, the Welsh Government’s finance and local government secretary Mark Drakeford said he was concerned it would lead to “more confrontational relationships between employers and workers”.

“In Wales, employers and the trade union movement work together constructively,” he said.

“We are not prepared to let the Trade Union Act undermine the approach we have built on this side of the border.”

He added he believed the act “interferes” with the Assembly’s powers.

“Key sections on ballot thresholds, facility time and check-off would make the delivery of devolved public services in Wales more difficult, changing the balance of the relationship between employers and unions,” he said.

“This bill seeks to ensure the damaging provisions of the UK act do not apply to public services in Wales.”

The plans have won the support of general secretary of the Welsh branch of the Trades Union Congress Martin Mansfield, who called it “hugely welcome and important.”

“The Westminster government must respect the democratic will of the people of Wales rather than attempting to interfere in services they were not elected to run,” he said.

In January last year the Assembly passed a motion calling on the UK Government not to apply the act to Wales.

Other regulations in the act include a six-month time limit between strike ballots and action being taken, which can be extended to nine months with agreement between a union and employer.