Super-union talks begin
The T&G and Amicus have agreed to begin talks for a merger that would create a new ‘super-union’.
The GMB has also been invited to take part in the talks, which could create a union with 2.5 million members. Such a union would be by far the largest in the private sector.
T&G general secretary Tony Woodley said today: “This is an historic opportunity for trade unionism to seize the industrial agenda of the twenty-first century, and to win for today’s workers on pay and conditions.
“We could now put behind us pointless inter-union competition and focus on fighting for our members in the workplace as one powerful union. Today’s announcement is a message of hope for every worker who needs strong trade unionism, and a warning to employers that we intend to match the power of capital with the power of united labour.”
Mr Woodley said that the new union would provide “a powerful springboard for carrying trade unionism to the millions of unorganised workers who need our protection in Britain and Ireland today.”
The T&G said it anticipated that the new union would devote £20 million a year to organising throughout the economy.
Derek Simpson, general secretary of Amicus, said: “A union of over 2.5 million people will be a major force in society, protecting the interests of working people.
“A union with this level of influence has the potential to make a difference to the lives of every working person in the United Kingdom. Today we have taken a giant step forward in shaping the future for working people.”
Britain’s biggest union is Unison, led by Dave Prentis, and has over 1,300,000 members.
