New union launched

"A new concept in trade unionism" was how Michael Leahy, general secretary of Community - the union for life, described his new union at its launch last month.

The 50,000-strong union is the result of the merger of ISTC - The Community Union and the KFAT knitwear and footwear union, and aims to help its members at work, at home and in the community.

It is to launch a not-for-profit employment agency which will "set new standards and insist on holidays, sick pay and learning opportunities," Leahy said.

* The transfer of Unifi into Amicus was stalled last month after a last-minute complaint about the merger ballot was lodged by a Unifi member.