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IWS Documented News Service
_______________________________
Institute for Workplace Studies                 Professor Samuel B. Bacharach
School of Industrial & Labor Relations          Director, Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell University
16 East 34th Street, 4th floor                  Stuart Basefsky
New York, NY 10016                      Director, IWS News Bureau
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From the European Industrial Relations Observatory (EIRO) Online

The following is a selection of items from EIROnline concerning Union Mergers. Much more can be found through the SEARCH mechanism for EIRO at -
Search
http://www.eiro.eurofound.eu.int/search/search.php


UK
Union merger momentum continues [21 October 2004]
http://www.eiro.eurofound.eu.int/2004/10/feature/uk0410105f.html

Several major UK unions have been involved in mergers in 2004, continuing a trend established in the 1990s. The mergers go beyond industry consolidation and demonstrate further membership concentration in large, general 'super-unions'.


Austria
Union merger plans dropped [5 October 2004]
http://www.eiro.eurofound.eu.int/2004/10/inbrief/at0410201n.html

In September 2004, it was announced that plans for a large-scale trade union merger among affiliates of the Austrian Trade Union Federation (ÖGB), initially launched in 2001, had been dropped. Differing 'corporate cultures' among the unions and inter-union conflicts over the distribution of power and posts are thought to have been among the key factors in the merger's failure.

Denmark
New union holds first congress [5 October 2004]
http://www.eiro.eurofound.eu.int/2004/10/inbrief/dk0410103n.html

In September 2004, a merger between the General WorkersUnion (SiD) and the National Union of Female Workers (KAD) became a reality when the new organisation, known as 3F, held its inaugural congress. The new union has 375,000 members and is Denmark's largest.

Norway
Scope of YS union merger reduced [11 August 2004]
http://www.eiro.eurofound.eu.int/2004/08/inbrief/no0408101n.html

Four trade unions affiliated to Norway's Confederation of Vocational Unions (YS) had been planning a merger since 2002, but two of them pulled out, at least for the present, in late June 2004. The two remaining unions, PRIFO and 2fo, will continue the merger process. However, the merged union, due to be established on 1 January 2005, will now have 30,000 members rather than 90,000, as originally envisaged


Norway
Major union merger in municipal sector [21 November 2002]
http://www.eiro.eurofound.eu.int/2002/11/feature/no0211106f.html

A new public sector trade union will be established in summer 2003 when the Norwegian Union of Municipal Employees (NKF) and the Norwegian Association of Health and Social Care Personnel (NHS) merge. The new organisation will have some 280,000 members, making it Norway's largest trade union.


Netherlands
Large-scale merger leads to formation of Dutch super union [28 November 1997]
http://www.eiro.eurofound.eu.int/1997/11/feature/nl9711145f.html

Four large Dutch trade unions, which already cooperate in the FNV confederation, have recently decided to merge. The merger is to be finalised in January 1998, resulting in a union with almost half a million members. For the first time, those receiving social benefits and older people will be incorporated into the organisation as a distinct industrial group. This merger has also prompted more intensive cooperation between other Dutch unions.


Germany
A wave of trade union mergers [28 October 1997]
http://www.eiro.eurofound.eu.int/1997/10/feature/de9710233f.html

October 1997 saw a wave of trade union mergers in Germany, reducing the number of affiliates of the DGB confederation from 15 to 11 unions. The mining, leather and chemicals workers' unions have founded a new joint union, while the textiles and clothing workers' union and the union for workers in wood and plastics have decided to integrate themselves into the metalworkers' union, IG Metall. Furthermore, six unions in the service sector have signed a joint declaration pointing out the need for further restructuring among union organisations, which may finally lead to further mergers.


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This information is provided to subscribers, friends, faculty, students and alumni of the School of Industrial & Labor Relations (ILR). It is a service of the Institute for Workplace Studies (IWS) in New York City. Stuart Basefsky is responsible for the selection of the contents which is intended to keep researchers, companies, workers, and governments aware of the latest information related to ILR disciplines as it becomes available for the purposes of research, understanding and debate. The content does not reflect the opinions or positions of Cornell University, the School of Industrial & Labor Relations, or that of Mr. Basefsky and should not be construed as such. The service is unique in that it provides the original source documentation, via links, behind the news and research of the day. Use of the information provided is unrestricted. However, it is requested that users acknowledge that the information was found via the IWS Documented News Service.

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Stuart Basefsky                 *
Director, IWS News Bureau               *
Institute for Workplace Studies *
Cornell/ILR School                      *
16 E. 34th Street, 4th Floor            *
New York, NY 10016                      *
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Telephone: (607) 255-2703               *
Fax: (607) 255-9641                     *
E-mail: smb6@cornell.edu                *
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