Technology unions talk merger

Merger talks are underway between two engineering and scientific unions. They are the 75,000-strong former civil service specialists' union, the IPMS, and the Engineers and Managers Association (EMA), with 30,000 members, which organises in the electricity supply industry.

Paul Noon, IPMS general secretary said a merger would be decided on merit as both unions were financially sound. "The challenge is whether we can create a new union that will appeal to the growing number of people working in science and technology," he said.

Any merger recommendation would be put to the unions' conferences in 2001 followed by membership ballots.