http://www.forbes.com/afxnewslimited/feeds/afx/2008/05/25/afx5046251.html05.25.08, 11:18 AM ET
LONDON (Thomson Financial) - Unite, Britain's biggest trade union, is preparing to announce a merger with a U.S. counterpart United Steelworkers, paving the way for the first global labour organisation, according to a report in The Sunday Telegraph.
Unite's 2 million members in Britain and Ireland include staff at some of the largest companies, including BP (nyse: BP - news - people ), and Rolls-Royce (other-otc: RYCEY.PK - news - people ) Group.
People close to the talks between the two unions told the paper on Saturday night that Unite had finalised the details of a merger deal with the United Steelworkers (USW) union. The union has more than 1 million members in the U.S. and Canada.
A formal alliance will be unveiled at a USW convention in Las Vegas in July, said the people involved in the discussions.
ben.deighton@thomsonreuters.com