Council managers join GMB

The 9,000-strong MPO union, which represents senior managers in local government, is to merge with the GMB general union after 85% of voters said "yes". The 700,000-member GMB represents local authority manual workers.

Rob Newland, chief executive of MPO, welcomed the result saying it would "create a new modern union which can represent all levels of employee in local government. A new union for the 21st century".

John Edmonds, general secretary of the GMB, added that: "Between our two unions we will be responsible for over a quarter of a million employees in local government, and that will give us the negotiating muscle, expertise and knowledge to secure a bright future for our members."

Musicians' leader

The Musicians' Union has a new general secretary after the previous incumbent, Dennis Scard, lost his bid for re-election by eight votes in a poll of 8,000. Derek Kay took over on 1 January in only the third instance of a sitting general secretary losing a bid for re-election since five-yearly re-elections were introduced in 1985.