News

A clear majority of the Metalworkers’ Union Congress delegates were in favour of the merger but a minority of the delegates prevented it to happen.

It was possible as, according to the union rules, it is not possible to dissolve the Metalworkers’ Union and transfer its assets if a quarter of the Congress delegates are against it. In the decisive voting the minority had about 37 per cent of the votes.

In February 2009, in the ballot on the merger project a clear majority voted for the merger. Prior to the ballot, leaders of the two political groups in the union leadership promised to respect the result of the ballot. In the union leadership social-democrats represent the majority group, members and/or supporters of the Left Alliance the minority group.

The withdrawal of the Metalworkers’ Union means that the new union – TEAM – will be the result of amalgamation of three of four unions. The Media Union, the Wood and Allied Workers’ Union and the Railway Workers’ Union already are members of TEAM.

The Chemical Workers’ Union will make its final decision still in this week in the meeting of the union Council. In February 2009, in the Chemical Workers’ Union ballot a clear majority voted for the merger.

TEAM will officially begin its work on 1 January 2011.