Union merger focuses on building in the community

The 116-year-old National Union of Domestic Appliance and General Operatives (NUDAGO) is to merge with the Community union.

NUDAGO, with 1,800 members, voted by 95% to 5% to transfer its engagements to 70,000-strong Community, formed by the merger of the ISTC and KFAT unions in 2004. Turnout was 31.5%.

NUDAGO mainly represents members in the manufacture of white goods but also in foundries and light engineering. Its general secretary Tony McCarthy said that when the union decided it could no longer remain independent it decided that joining Community "was best not only for our current members, but for those people in our communities who we need to recruit."

He said important factors were: "Community's focus on education and training to help members cope with industrial change" and their emphasis on "working with community groups to help regenerate communities like those in which NUDAGO members live".