Merger to create super union

A MERGER between three British unions is set to create a 130,000-member super union in Ireland.

The proposed merger between the three largest private sector unions in the British - the Transport and General Workers Union (TGWU), Amicus and the GMB - would create a union with more than 2.7 million members.

However, since up to 130,000 of those members are based in Southern and Northern Ireland, the development has significant implications for unions here.

With the merger tipped to proceed as early as 2006, Ireland’s largest union SIPTU, with more than 200,000 members, would find itself competing with a powerful alternative union bloc.

Ireland’s largest public service union, IMPACT, with 54,000 members, would be less affected by the move since the new union would be confined to the private sector.

According to Industrial Relations News, SIPTU has about 150,000 members in the Republic while the new super union could lay claim to 50,000 workers south of the Border.

The move comes as all private sector unions struggle with falling membership and declining power.

In an effort to increase the impact of trade unions, SIPTU and IMPACT will this week announce a new cooperation agreement aimed at increasing membership and influence.

Crucially, the agreement should put an end to the often bitter rivalry over membership between the unions.