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British, US trade unions to merge

(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-05-26 07:58

London - Britain's biggest trade union is set to announce a merger with a US counterpart to eventually create the first global labour organisation, a press report said Sunday.

The planned tie-up between Britain's Unite and United Steelworkers (USW) in the United States is designed to better protect workers against the effects of globalisation, the Sunday Telegraph said.

Unite has two million members in Britain and the Republic of Ireland working for major companies including oil giant BP and Rolls Royce, while USW has more than one million members in the United States and Canada.

The paper said the two unions had finalised the details of a "framework agreement" and a formal alliance would be unveiled at a USW convention in Las Vegas in July.

The two unions view the merger as the first step towards a global union that could take in labour movements from the world's emerging markets in eastern Europe, Latin America and Asia, the report added.

The plans also reflect recognition among union officials in Britain and the United States that as a cross-border body they would be stronger in negotiations with multi-national companies, the Sunday Telegraph said.

Unite was unavailable for comment.