by Meic Birtwistle
in Aberystwyth

A REVOLT by both the Welsh Assembly and Scottish Parliament to kick out the Westminster government’s hated Trade Union Bill was urged at the weekend.

Speaking on Saturday at a fringe meeting of Undeb, Plaid Cymru’s official trade union section, SNP MP Chris Stephens called for a revolt if the Bill were passed.

Mr Stephens, who serves on the committee scrutinising the Bill at Westminster, said: “Jeremy Hunt, the English Tory Health Minister, will have the right of dictating policy on facility time and check-off arrangements for health unions in Wales and Scotland — which are areas of devolved responsibilities.

“The Scottish Parliament and Welsh Assembly should demand that a Legislative Consent Motion should be put and then vote it down. If that causes a constitutional crisis — so be it.”

He observed of the Conservative MPs that “the Tories have no idea as to how a trade union organises and operates in the workplace.”

The inevitable consequence of such a law would be that “picketing will basically be made illegal by this legislation — thereby creating a new blacklist,” he warned.

In response Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood promised that her party would fiercely oppose the Bill, stating “the Assembly needs to take a lead.

“This is an issue that transcends party politics. Devolution clearly creates an extra dimension to the struggle.”