CAB129-37 — Page 742

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APPENDIX B

Extracts from Hansard

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2ND NOVEMBER, 1949

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41. Mr. Boyd-Carpenter asked the Postmaster General whether he has con- sidered the application submitted to him on 8th October, 1949, by the Engineering Officers (Telecommunications) Association; and whether, in view of the fact that the membership of this association exceeds! 40 per cent. of the total of organised staff in the technical officers: grade, he proposes to grant recognition to this association.

Mr. Wilfred Paling:

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When this Association's earlier claim for recognition was rejected on 27th August last, they were informed that the matter would be reconsidered in the light of membership figures at the end of the year, assuming that in the mean- time there was no change in the principle on which claims for recognition were considered. I am at present reviewing the basis on which recognition by the Post Office should be given to new staff associations and pending a conclusion of that review I regret I am not in a position to take a decision on the present claim.

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter: Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether the claim of the association referred to in my Question establishes that they now number 40 per cent. of the organised members of this grade, and has not that figure previously been treated as entitling anybody to recognition?

Mr. Paling: They have made a claim to that extent, but with regard to the figures only, I must examine the claim of the other union also.

Mr. W. J. Brown: Inasmuch as the existing rules governing recognition, in which the 40 per cent. level figures have operated very satisfactorily for a very large number of years in the Post Office, can the Postmaster-General tell us what he has in mind in saying that he is contemplating a revision of those rules?

Mr. Paling: The question of the multiplicity of unions brings in its train difficulties for the Post Office itself also, and I should like to examine the question in the light of the difficulties.

Mr. Quintin Hogg: At all events, will the right hon. Gentleman give us an assurance that his review is not being undertaken for the exclusion on political grounds of a union whose basis of membership is otherwise adequate for recognition?

Mr. Paling: I am undertaking this review in the interests of the Post Office generally and of the men themselves.

Hon. Members: Oh!

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter: Is it not a fact that this organisation now numbers 40 per cent. of the members in the grade, and that the rule granting recognition in such cases is still in effect? On those two assumptions, can the right hon. Gentleman say why recognition is now refused, even if the matter is to be reviewed again.

Mr. Gallacher: It is a Communist union. (Amended 17th November : is not a Communist union.")"

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Mr. Paling: I have already said that the union has made that claim. At the moment I am not disputing their figures

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter: The right hon. Gentleman is not?

Page 742ust have regard to the figures med fy1the other

Mr. Paling:

union also.

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