Scotsman.com News - UK - 'Super union' threat to Blair's policies: TWO of Britain’s biggest unions are considering merging, forming a heavy-weight challenge to Tony Blair, the Prime Minister, as he prepares Labour’s manifesto for the general election.

Tony Woodley, who takes over from Sir Bill Morris as the general secretary of the Transport and General Workers union next week, said he was in favour of joining forces with another major union - most probably the GMB.

Mr Woodley, a leading member of the so-called "awkward squad", also announced a summit of "like-minded unions" to co-ordinate grassroots opposition to "ludicrous and divisive" Labour policies...

...Mr Woodley said that the success of the Scottish Socialists in this year’s Holyrood elections should have rung warning bells across the Labour movement.

"If you analyse what has happened there with the SSP, that’s a real warning shot for Labour.

"People are deserting them by the droves, unlike in Wales who have carried on with a traditional old Labour culture.

"This is a big message for Scotland and for Wales," Mr Woodley said.