ABSTRACT
This chapter outlines the debates and positioning that took place before the four merger processes were completed. With the exception of UNISON, the merger cases involved the selection of merger partners from a range of options. The chapter thus examines why particular merger partners were selected. The impact of the politics of bargaining is apparent throughout. In particular, the impact of government policies and inter-union relations influenced the merger processes at this stage. Changes in forms of regulation and government labour market policies ‘disturbed’ union recruitment bases and compelled unions to find new approaches to organisation and activity. Changing patterns of inter-union relations generated a range of merger options for many unions. When other mergers took place, however, some options were eliminated and the pressure increased on the remaining unions to seek appropriate alliances in the form of mergers. Although the precise form of the effect of government policies and inter-union relations differed between Britain and Germany, their impact on the merger processes was widespread.
