I’d like to remind everyone that Plaid Cymru strongly opposed the Trade Union Act of the UK state when it was brought forward during the last Assembly. We also opposed all of the amendments presented by the Conservatives in this place throughout the journey of this Bill during this Assembly term, challenging every tireless attempt by the Conservatives to attack workers’ rights in the public sector here in Wales. Only through partnership between workers, industry, employers and the Government can we do the best for our country and our economy, and by fully respecting the workforce we can reduce the need for industrial action and dispute.

The greatest sorrow with this Bill is that it needs to be pushed through the legislative process so swiftly. The reason for that, of course, is because it must be passed before the Wales Act is enacted, because the Wales Act will remove powers from this Assembly. It’s very disappointing that we didn’t therefore have an opportunity to expand the rights of workers in the public sector in Wales, for example, by undoing some of the elements of the Acts that go back to the days of Margaret Thatcher.

So, we could have created legislation to protect workers’ rights in the public sector in Wales, but also a piece of legislation that would enhance workers’ rights, and, in the process, strengthen the relationship between the employer, the unions and the workforce. Perhaps we will have an opportunity to look at this at some point in the future.

This Bill is a clear attempt by the establishment here to safeguard the rights of workers in Wales from Conservative assaults on those rights, and, clearly, Plaid Cymru will be voting in favour of this Bill today. Plaid Cymru believes in safeguarding and promoting the positive role that trade unions can and should play in Welsh society.