Super-union to launch next May

A new super-union formed by a merger of Amicus and the TGWU is now on course for an official launch at the beginning of next May.

An update on the merger talks says these have progressed to the point where general rules governing the new union can be put to the respective executive councils. The TGWU is planning a national recall conference on the plan in December with members voting on the merger in January.

While the GMB has backed off a three-way merger, the new union would still count a total of 1.9 million members.

Derek Simpson, Amicus general secretary, has told his members that, in the event of a vote to merge, the two unions would initially run their own affairs for an 18-month transitional period within a framework set by a joint executive council.

There would initially be two joint general secretaries up to January, 2012. At that point the merger would be completed with a single general secretary taking over.

[Contract Journal, 25 Octoberr 2006, p 1]