TSSA members vote for merger with US-based trade union

The TSSA transport union’s planned amalgamation with a US-based boilermakers’ union is set to go full steam ahead following an eight-to-one vote in favour by its members.

If the link-up with the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers (“the Boilermakers”) goes to its conclusion it will be the first time that a British trade union has merged with a north American one.

The ballot of the nearly 16,000 members of the TSSA resulted in 85% voting “yes” to the merger and 15% voting “no” in a turnout of 32%. Expressing his delight with both the turnout and the result, TSSA general secretary Manuel Cortes said the union’s leadership “will now put our collective shoulders to the wheel to act on the wishes of our members by making the proposed merger a reality”.