USW, Unite Continue Plans to Merge

Great Britain’s Unite and the United Steelworkers (USW) have moved ahead with their plans to merge and create a global super-union. Representatives of the two million-member Unite and the USW met last week to hammer out merger details, with a final announcement of the merger expected at USW’s annual convention this July.

Unite’s membership covers Britain and Ireland, and are employed by such companies as BP, British Airways and Rolls Royce. The million-member USW represents US and Canadian workers in a wide range of industries, including steel and tyres. Long-term, the merged group envisions adding unions covering Eastern Europe, Latin America and Asia, creating a complex global union that could seriously impact global corporations.

The merger is expected to create a new umbrella organisation, with its main partners continuing to act somewhat autonomously. A full merger may be difficult because of countless legal issues, but the group plans to act as one union to the degree possible. A new name for the combined global union will be chosen next month, according to reports.

Last year, in the largest union merger in U.K. history, Amicus joined with the Transport and General Workers’ Union to create Unite. Shortly thereafter, the USW and Unite announced plans to merge. (Tire Review/Akron)