The ballot will seek members endorsement for negotiations, and would be followed by another ballot, probably in the middle of 2004, for members to accept any merger document.

Dubbins said that there were many parallels between the two unions, notably that Amicus was also predominantly a private sector manufacturing union, it too was committed to training and mid-life learning, and was also pro-Europe.

"Amicus members work with our members in printing, papermaking, packaging, newspapers and the media. We hold joint agreements with them in many companies. A merger will create one union across the industries we cover, said Dubbins.

The GPMU would have an autonomous industrial sector within Amicus, which has already indicated that it would transfer 20,000 of its current membership into that new sector. Union subscriptions would reduce for GPMU members by 2.12 a week.

All agreements with employers and employers organisations, like the National Agreement, would continue to be negotiated by GPMU officials at chapel, branch and national level.

Amicus general secretary Derek Simpson said: The decision by the GPMUs Executive [Council] to recommend to its members to open formal discussions with a view to merging with Amicus provides an historic opportunity for the trade union and labour movement.

Amicus, which was formed earlier this year when the AEEU and MSF merged, has more than 1m members.

Last year PrintWeek revealed that the GPMU was looking for possible partners for merger including Amicus (PrintWeek, 5 July 2002).