CAB129-37 — Page 741

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Page 741

10. In that event, I would propose to afford the Staff Sides of the National and Departmental Whitley Councils an opportunity to comment on my revised policy, as shown in Appendix E. 1 think that it would be accepted by the Post Office Staff side, but from informal conversation with the Chairman of the National Staff Side it seems that there may be difficulty in that quarter on the ground that the completely wide terms of the new policy are quite inconsistent with the formula governing recognition in the Civil Service set out in Estacode N (a) 3 (reproduced in Appendix F), which says in so many words that Departmental recognition depends on the size of membership in the grades or classes concerned within a Department; and that they may object to the proposed policy unless they can have an assurance that while this is to be the basis of recognition in the Post Office it is not to be imposed outside the Post Office. I should propose to give no decision on the E.O. (T.) A. claim until the check of membership figures has been carried out at the end of this year, as already arranged. I have every reason to think that, when this membership figure has been checked and weighed against the other considerations now specifically set out in my new statement of policy, I shall reach the conclusion that the Association's claim for recognition must be rejected.

Post Office, E.C.1,

12th December, 1949.

W. P.

APPENDIX A

BREAKAWAY STAFF ASSOCIATIONS SEEKING RECOGNITION

Breakaway

Association

Engineering Officers

(Telecommunications)

Association

Grade(s) for which Recognition is Claimed

Technical Officer

Established Association

Remarks

National Association of

Telephone Supervising Officers

National Association of

Postal and Telegraph

Officers

Male Night Telephone

Supervising

Grades

Postal and Telegraph Officers

National Guild of Motor ¦ Mechanics-

Engineers

in-Charge, grades I, II and III

Page 741 Mechanics

Motor

Cleaners

Post Office Engineering Union

Post Office Controlling Officers' Association

Union of Post Office Workers

Post Office Engineering Union

The Technical Officer grade contains the most highly qualified of the men represented by the P.O.E.U. The new Association claims that it already has a membership of 40% of the grade and there is little doubt that ́a check would confirm this.

The new Association claims recognition in respect of the male night telephone supervising grades. It has not yet furnished detailed figures of membership but it may well be that it has reached 40% of at any rate one of the grades concerned. Male telephonists are already jointly represented by two mutually hostile associations, the U.P.W. and the National Guild of Telephonists.

The P. & T.O. grade performing counter and writing duties is the highest of the manipulative grades represented by the U.P.W. In June 1949, the new Association had a membership estimated at only 25% of the organised staff of the grade, and it is very unlikely to have reached the 40% level yet.

These grades represent all the Work- shop staff of the Motor Transport Section except Tradesmen. The Guild has not yet submitted a request for recognition but has enquired about the procedure for obtaining recognition.