TUC resolves conflict at Alliance and Leicester

The TUC has advised ALGUS, the main union at the Alliance and Leicester Group, that manufacturing and services union Amicus has suspended its efforts both to secure recognition at the bank and to recruit members there.

ALGUS had last month appealed to the TUC for help after the bank derecognised it and simultaneously handed bargaining rights to Amicus, which had few or no members there. ALGUS said Amicus had "allowed itself to be manipulated by the bank to undermine another TUC affiliate".

After meetings with TUC general secretary Brendan Barber, the inter-union matter has been resolved, and ALGUS can now concentrate on trying to get its bargaining rights reinstated. The union is organising a membership ballot on a merger with the CWU communication workers' union, which still has recognition at the Alliance and Leicester.