GUMBO
Brace yourselves!
Reports from the TUC suggest that yet another new, super-union could be on the cards - proving that size really does matter in the macho world of trade union politics.
The talk of the steamie - since there's not much else going on to excite delegates - is that the GMB and Unison are to merge and will create a new organisation - with 1.8 million members.
If so, the Labour Party could find itself beholden to a second super-union - along with Unite.
Unite is the trade union formerly known as TGWU/Amicus - which is the Big Daddy of the trade union movement - for the moment anyway.
Maybe one day soon there will be just one giant monopoly - to reflect the many and diverse views of all union members - north and south of the border and of all political persuasions!
Negotiations between GMB/Unison have begun to create a single organisation with a combined annual income of over £260million - which would be Labour’s biggest donor and benefactor.
Talks will now be held over many months - perhaps years even - promising to bring the union closer to its rank and file members.
But the exact opposite will be the case - with most of the key decisions still being made by remote, faceless committees.
Big may be best for the union bosses - but small is definitely beautiful - when it comes to the interests of ordinary, individual members.
The bookies are now taking bets on the name of this new behemoth in the union jungle - according to reports the early favourite is: GUMBO.
Reports from the TUC suggest that yet another new, super-union could be on the cards - proving that size really does matter in the macho world of trade union politics.
The talk of the steamie - since there's not much else going on to excite delegates - is that the GMB and Unison are to merge and will create a new organisation - with 1.8 million members.
If so, the Labour Party could find itself beholden to a second super-union - along with Unite.
Unite is the trade union formerly known as TGWU/Amicus - which is the Big Daddy of the trade union movement - for the moment anyway.
Maybe one day soon there will be just one giant monopoly - to reflect the many and diverse views of all union members - north and south of the border and of all political persuasions!
Negotiations between GMB/Unison have begun to create a single organisation with a combined annual income of over £260million - which would be Labour’s biggest donor and benefactor.
Talks will now be held over many months - perhaps years even - promising to bring the union closer to its rank and file members.
But the exact opposite will be the case - with most of the key decisions still being made by remote, faceless committees.
Big may be best for the union bosses - but small is definitely beautiful - when it comes to the interests of ordinary, individual members.
The bookies are now taking bets on the name of this new behemoth in the union jungle - according to reports the early favourite is: GUMBO.
