WORKERS UNITING

That this House welcomes the merger of Britain's largest union, Unite, with the US-based United Steelworkers Union, called Workers Uniting; congratulates Derek Simpson and Tony Woodley, the joint general secretaries of Unite, on their achievement; notes that Unite was formed last year in a merger between the Transport and General Workers Union and Amicus; further notes that the new union will have three million members and will synchronise negotiations with multinational companies on a global basis, preventing abuses which can flow from businesses playing one country's workers off against another's; looks forward to a fair balance of power and responsible negotiation between employers and workers in the interests of economic and social development globally and for the UK; and believes this can help lead to continued improvement in the conditions of employment for workers who create the wealth and should get a fair share of that wealth, a safe working environment and equitable pay.