Plaid Cymru has called on the Labour-run Welsh Government to demand the devolution of employment law rights to Wales to protect workers’ right to strike from Westminster’s draconian anti-strike legislation.
Plaid Cymru has called on the Labour-run Welsh Government to demand the devolution of employment law rights to Wales to protect workers’ right to strike from Westminster’s draconian anti-strike legislation.
In a debate in the Senedd on Wednesday 1st of March, Plaid Cymru will argue that by devolving this power over of employment law to Wales in order to secure the collective rights and bargaining powers of workers. The Labour Party, however, has admitted that there is an attack on workers’ rights, but have not backed calls to devolve the powers to Wales.
The UK Government’s Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Bill, which is currently going through parliament will seek to introduce new requirements for workers and trade unions when engaging in strike action. If they do not comply with those regulations, trade unions would face losing legal protections against being sued. Similarly, employees would lose protections against unfair dismissal for taking part in industrial action.
Plaid Cymru’s Economy spokesperson, Luke Fletcher MS, has expressed concern at the Labour Welsh Government’s constant promises of a Labour UK Government that would right the wrongs of the Conservatives, rather than seeking to devolve powers to protect rights and improve lives now.
Plaid Cymru has also said that Labour’s opposition to devolving the powers over workers’ rights in Wales puts them at odds with their own Social Partnership and Public Procurement (Wales) Bill, which was introduced to the Senedd in June 2022. The aim of this bill is to improve public services through ‘social partnership working, promoting fair work and socially responsible public procurement’. It will embed the Welsh Government commitment to make Wales a ‘fair work nation’ within the framework of the Well-Being of Future Generations Act, as well as formalising a tripartite system of relations between unions, government, and employers in the public sector.
Luke Fletcher MS, said:
“Plaid Cymru believes that the right to strike for fair pay and safe work conditions should be an integral part of the rights of citizens in Wales and throughout the UK. The Conservative Westminster Government is intent on taking away this right through their draconian anti-strike law, and the Labour government in Wales doesn’t seem to want the power to protect it.
“The current legislation that Westminster is intent on trying to pass would seek to fine or fire unions and workers in health, fire and rescue, education, transport, nuclear and radioactive waste, and border security.
“These key workers keep the country running, so their ability to engage in lawful industrial action is an essential bargaining tool in order to ensure safe working environments and fair pay.
“Plaid Cymru will continue to support workers’ rights, as we have showed throughout every strike over the winter. The absence of the Labour Party on these picket lines has been noticed across all parts of Wales and the UK. They must now take every opportunity to protect our workers and they can do this by backing our calls and devolving powers over workers’ rights in Wales, and by doing so, secure them.”
Cymraeg Isod
Plaid Cymru: Rhaid i Lywodraeth Llafur Cymru ddatganoli deddf cyflogaeth i amddiffyn hawliau gweithwyr Cymru rhag San Steffan
Mae Plaid Cymru wedi galw ar Lywodraeth Cymru o dan y Blaid Lafur i fynnu datganoli pwerau dros hawliau cyfraith cyflogaeth i Gymru er mwyn amddiffyn hawl gweithwyr i streicio rhag deddfwriaeth gwrth-streicio San Steffan.
Mewn dadl yn y Senedd ar ddydd Mercher 1af o Fawrth, bydd Plaid Cymru yn dadlau y byddai datganoli’r pŵer hwn dros gyfraith cyflogaeth i Gymru yn sicrhau hawliau a phwerau bargeinio gweithwyr. Ond er i’r Blaid Lafur cyfaddef bod ymosodiad ar hawliau gweithwyr, dydyn nhw ddim wedi cefnogi galwadau i ddatganoli’r pwerau i Gymru.
Bydd Bil Streiciau (Lefelau Isafswm Gwasanaeth) Llywodraeth y DU, sydd yn mynd trwy Senedd San Steffan ar hyn o bryd yn ceisio cyflwyno gofynion newydd i weithwyr ac undebau llafur sydd yn awyddus i streicio. Os nad ydyn nhw’n cydymffurfio â’r rheoliadau hynny, byddai undebau llafur yn wynebu colli amddiffyniadau cyfreithiol rhag cael eu herlyn. Yn yr un modd, byddai gweithwyr yn colli amddiffyniadau rhag diswyddo am gymryd rhan mewn gweithredu diwydiannol.
Mae llefarydd Plaid Cymru ar yr economi, Luke Fletcher AS, wedi mynegi pryder am addewidion cyson y Blaid Lafur yng Nghymru o Lywodraeth Lafur y DU fyddai’n unioni camweddau’r Ceidwadwyr, yn hytrach na cheisio datganoli grymoedd i amddiffyn hawliau a gwella bywydau pobl Cymru cyn hynny.
Mae Plaid Cymru hefyd wedi dweud bod gwrthwynebiad Llafur i ddatganoli’r pwerau dros hawliau gweithwyr yng Nghymru yn eu rhoi yn groes i’w Bil Partneriaeth Gymdeithasol a Chaffael Cyhoeddus eu hunain, a gyflwynwyd i’r Senedd ym mis Mehefin 2022. Nod y bil hwn yw gwella gwasanaethau cyhoeddus drwy ‘weithio mewn partneriaeth gymdeithasol, hyrwyddo gwaith teg a chaffael cyhoeddus sy’n gymdeithasol gyfrifol.’ Bydd hyn yn ymrwymo Llywodraeth Cymru i wneud Cymru’n ‘wlad gwaith teg’ o fewn fframwaith Deddf Llesiant Cenedlaethau’r Dyfodol, yn ogystal â ffurfioli perthynas rhwng undebau llafur, y Llywodraeth Cymru, a chyflogwyr yn y sector cyhoeddus.
Dywedodd Luke Fletcher AS:
“Mae Plaid Cymru’n credu y dylai’r hawl i streicio am gyflog teg ac amodau gwaith diogel fod yn rhan annatod o hawliau dinasyddion yng Nghymru a ledled y DU. Mae Llywodraeth Geidwadol San Steffan yn benderfynol o ddileu’r hawl hwn drwy eu deddf gwrth-streicio hunllefus, ac nid yw’n ymddangos bod y Llywodraeth Lafur yng Nghymru eisiau’r pŵer i’w amddiffyn.
“Byddai’r ddeddfwriaeth bresennol y mae San Steffan am ei phasio yn ceisio dirwyo neu ymddiswyddo undebau a gweithwyr yn y maes iechyd, tân ac achub, addysg, trafnidiaeth, gwastraff niwclear ac ymbelydrol, a lluoedd y ffin.
“Mae’r gweithwyr allweddol hyn yn cadw’r wlad i redeg, felly mae eu gallu i gymryd rhan mewn gweithredu diwydiannol cyfreithlon yn arf bargeinio hanfodol er mwyn sicrhau amgylcheddau gwaith diogel a thâl teg.
“Bydd Plaid Cymru yn parhau i gefnogi hawliau gweithwyr, fel rydyn ni wedi dangos trwy gydol pob streic dros y gaeaf. Mae absenoldeb y Blaid Lafur ar y llinellau piced yma wedi derbyn sylw ar draws pob rhan o Gymru a’r DU. Rhaid iddynt yn awr fanteisio ar bob cyfle i amddiffyn ein gweithwyr a gallant wneud hyn trwy gefnogi ein galwadau a datganoli pwerau dros hawliau gweithwyr yng Nghymru, a thrwy wneud hynny, eu sicrhau.”
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