Two of the biggest trade unions in Britain and Ireland have merged to form the largest union in these islands.
The merger between Amicus and the Transport and General Workers Union took place on International Workers Day and creates a new union called Unite.
Unite will now host nearly two million members.
Amicus was previously formed in a 2002 merger of MSF and the AEEU.
The Transport and General Workers Union includes its Irish region, the ATGWU.
The union will cover a wide range of industries and services including transport, manufacturing, aviation, food and farming, the financial sector as well as public services and the voluntary sector among many others.
The ATGWU Regional Secretary in Ireland Mick O'Reilly said the new union would be committed to organising workers and within three years 10% of its income would be spent in this way.
Mr O'Reilly added that the new union will be ‘committed in its opposition to propping up a right-wing Government in the Republic. It will be in favour of full independence for its members.
'It will want to pioneer a new partnership not with the bosses or governments but with its membership.’
In Northern Ireland, Mr O’Reilly said, Unite will support the establishment of the new institutions, which begins next Tuesday at Stormont.
But he added the new union would not be afraid to argue with either governments to mobilise people to challenge policies that have an adverse effect on working people and their families.
The merger has created a new bloc in industrial relations and an international aspect has emerged with the union making moves towards a global union.
A possible merger is being looked at with the United Steelworkers in the US.
Unite and the USW will hold exploratory talks that will engage in coordinated campaigning and common approaches to collective bargain with multinational companies.
