UK unionjoins forces with US steelworkers organisation to deal with international companies

Unite plans to merge with American organisation the United Steelworkers union to form an international super-union.

The two said they hope to agree an announcement this summer to create a 3 million-strong transatlantic union to defend workers in a globalised marketplace.

Unite has about 2 million members in the UK and the United Steelworkers union represents around 1 million members in the US, Canada and the Caribbean.

Derek Simpson, joint general secretary of Unite, said: 鈥淣ational unions have dealt with national companies. To deal with international companies you need international unions.鈥�

Unite was created last year from the merger of Amicus and the Transport and General Workers鈥� Union.