INTERNATIONAL: The Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association in the UK and Ireland and the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers in the USA have announced talks with a view to merging by July 1 2022.
TSSA has more than 18 000 members at rail, ferry, bus and associated companies and in the travel trade. ‘I am delighted that our Conference voted overwhelming for our union to continue talks with the Boilermakers to create the world’s first transatlantic union’, said General Secretary Manuel Cortes on September 20.
‘The aim is to deliver an autonomous British and Irish section composed of current TSSA members. We can build on our shared values and take forward a new and exciting model of trade union organising for our members on both sides of the pond.
‘If these talks are successful, our members will see no real change to the way our union currently operates, no lowering of the high standards of representation our members currently receive. In fact, we expect to have access to far greater funds to support our organising activities.’
IBB represents more than 50 000 people in the rail, heavy industry, shipbuilding, manufacturing, mining and related sectors.
President Newton B Jones said ‘the more we have learned about TSSA, the more we have understood the mutually beneficial opportunities for our unions. The strategic partnership agreement we signed in January 2020 first brought together our common strengths and resources, and even amid the pandemic we began to experience the advantages of sharing resources. I am excited about intensifying our discussions and to continuing our work together to amplify IBB and TSSA’s efforts to ensure working people have a voice on the job, safe working conditions, fair wages and fair treatment.’
