But GPMU Glasgow branch secretary David Munro said: We have come to an agreement with the general secretary and will withdraw the forthcoming action. Theres absolutely no triumphalism from anyone. We are concentrating on working to give our members the best representation, and give the best possible foundation to merger.
Munro would not disclose details of the agreement and said that they would be released in a joint statement soon.
The seven branches had argued that the national executive had gone beyond its authority when it set up the South East of England branch, whose boundaries placed it in competition with other GPMU branches. At the time an investigation into financial irregularities at the suspended Kent branch was taking place.
A GPMU spokesman confirmed that the branches legal action was over. However, he would not comment on the executives report on the Kent branch.
This [Kent] is an ongoing and internal matter for the union, therefore I cant comment, he added.
The seven branches had expressed their opposition to any merger in the run-up to the GPMUs Biennial Delegate Conference this summer, but later withdrew their objections (PrintWeek 3 July). The Dublin branch had also voiced its objections to the merger, which it later withdrew.
PrintWeek revealed that the GPMU was considering merging with one of the larger unions, among them AMICUS-AEEU and the Transport & General Workers Union, last July.
Story by John Davies
