Union mergers lead to revamps

A host of union mergers is on the cards as more than 250 trades unions bow to industrial logic and economic pressure, says a Trades Union Congress spokesman. New identities and revamped journals are set to follow.

The latest merger is between the National Communications Union and the Union of Communication Workers. The new Communication Workers Union emerged last week with an identity created by Artworkers.

Speaking of the 68 TUC-affiliated unions, the TUC spokesman says: “The trend is to merge. Unions have been losing members since 1979, there is less interest from private service workers to join and a growth in part-time work. It makes sense not to duplicate services.” The TUC has lost 100 affiliates over the last 10 years.

The spokesman predicts amalgamations between the giant TGWU and the smaller EPIU and UCATT. There are also ongoing talks between Civil Service unions to merge, he claims.

The green and red logo for the new 290 000-strong Communication Workers Union “needed to reflect an organisation that looks as though it’s going somewhere”, says Peter Hammarling, graphic designer at Artworkers, which regularly designs for unions.

As more union monthly journals are mailed directly, instead of being posted en masse to branch offices or factories, they are being redesigned with full colour.

“The unions now realise the importance of the magazines because of the cost of mailing them to every member’s home,” says Artworkers graphic designer John Finn, who has styled the new CWU Voice.

Start the discussionStart the discussion
  • Post a comment

Latest articles