UK and US unions in merger talks

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Amicus, a major union in the UK, is to discuss a possible merger with another union based in the US and Canada.

If agreed, it would bring another 1.2m members to Amicus, creating one of the biggest unions in the world with more than 3m members.

Amicus General Secretary Derek Simpson is due to meet officials from United Steel Workers in about a fortnight.

The BBC's Stephen Cape said it was the first time such an international merger has been mooted.

He said it was a reflection of the changing world, where union influence was in decline yet there was a growing need to fight global companies.

Although there are different labour laws in other countries, a super union could put pressure on companies and their managers, he added.

On some issues, for example pay, it would be possible to co-ordinate strikes at a company with plants in Britain and America.

Amicus is already set to expand next month when it merges with the Transport and General Workers Union (T&G), making it the country's biggest union.

Previously, Mr Simpson has spoken of creating "a single global trade union movement capable of challenging the might of multinationals".

[merseysider]

WTF?

I could understand them joining forces with unions in (for example) France and Germany, given the European dimension to labour law, but what on earth do they want to merge with an American union for?

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

Both unions have been on a merger mania of late, with the USW recently merging with an Aruban union to expand into a third country, albeit a minor one.  To deal with multinational companies, the unions need to become multinationals as well, so it makes sense.  I doubt if the stronger French or German unions are ready to recognize that fact yet.  Union rank and file  (at least in the U.S.) tend to contain some of the most nationalistic I don't care how people elsewhere are doing, I want to keep my job here and make more for doing it, even if there is someone else able to do it cheaper elsewhere and feel like they are improving their lot  by doing so.  Globalization means we either are going to have a race for the bottom or a rising tide lifting everyone up.  So far its done more lifting than downward racing.  That doesn't mean that I'd be happy if I were one of the privileged caught in a downdraft.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Stronger French unions? Union density in France is measured in single digits.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

Strength is not measured only by numbers, but also by how much the politicians pay attention to them.