Two of Ireland's largest British-based unions are poised for a merger that could transform the industrial relations scene in the technology sector. Some 90 per cent of MSF members, which represents workers in technical, management and supervisory grades, have just voted for a merger with the Amalgamated Engineering and Electrical Union.
The AEEU is a predominantly blue collar, craft-based union. As such, it provides a ready base within many IT firms to expand a union presence into white collar areas. The fact that many traditional functions carried out by craft workers are becoming more technical means the new union will be able to "follow" the job rather than see it disappear from the unionised sector.
MSF is holding an "enabling conference" in London on November 11th. Once this endorses the merger vote, the AEEU will ballot its 800,000 members. The new union will have 1.2 million members, of whom 57,000 will be based in Ireland. This will make it the second-largest union in both Britain and Ireland.
However, before the merger can go ahead, the AEEU's suspension from the Irish Congress of Trade Unions for recruiting electricians in the Republic must be resolved. This is a preserve of the Irish-based Technical Engineering and Electrical Union.
MSF is still a member of ICTU and its Irish secretary, Mr Jerry Shanahan, says the new union will be affiliated to congress. "The suspension issue will have to be resolved and the AEEU's reaffiliation is a condition of the merger," he said.