The creation of the first transatlantic trade union moved a step closer yesterday when British and North American unions unveiled merger proposals. The aim of the 3m-member alliance would be to provide greater protection for workers whose jobs are threatened by the spread of global -capitalism.

Amicus and the Transport and General Workers' Union, which will next month complete their own merger to create Britain's biggest trade union, Unite, with 2.1m members, have agreed to set in motion plans that they said could lead to a "legal merger" with the United Steelworkers union. The three unions, as a first step, have agreed to establish "a merger exploration committee". USW represents 850,000 workers in the US, Canada and the Caribbean in the steel, aluminium, glass and manufacturing sectors.