GPMU votes to join growing union

Members of the GPMU print union have voted to merge with the manufacturing and services union Amicus, becoming the second major union to join Amicus this year.

GMPU members voted by 86% to 14% to transfer to Amicus in a ballot with a 33% turnout. Tony Dubbins, general secretary of the GPMU, described it as an "outstanding result". It is hoped to complete the formal process of transfer by 1 October, although the union has up to five years to integrate its structures into those of Amicus.

Last month also saw the completion of the transfer of engagements from the finance union UNIFI, whose members voted by 90% to 10% in favour of merging with Amicus in May. The lengthy formal process of transfer was completed on 17 August.

UNIFI has 142,400 members and the GMPU has 102,100. Together with the existing Amicus membership of 935,300, the mergers will take the total membership to 1,179,800, according to figures submitted to the TUC.

Other mergers involving Amicus seem likely to follow in the future. And a union spokesperson told Labour Research that some in the union would like to form closer links with the German metalworking union IG Metall.