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Post Office Engineering Union
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<h2 id="history">History</h2> <p>The union was founded in 1915 when the Post Office Engineering and Stores Association and the Amalgamated Society of Telephone Employees merged, to form the Post Office Amalgamated Engineering and Stores Association.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:2" href="#fn:2"><sup>2</sup></a> In 1922, following the establishment of the <a href="/facts/Irish_Free_State/rjjaevUC">Irish Free State</a>, the union's Irish section split away to form the <a href="/facts/Irish_Post_Office_Engineering_Union/5Pc2cdr5">Irish Post Office Engineering Union</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:3" href="#fn:3"><sup>3</sup></a> In 1925, the Post Office Telegraph Mechanicians' Society joined the union.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:4" href="#fn:4"><sup>4</sup></a> However, by 1939, membership was only 39,000.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:5" href="#fn:5"><sup>5</sup></a> </p><p>By 1983, the POEU was the twentieth largest union in the UK, with membership around 130,000.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:6" href="#fn:6"><sup>6</sup></a> In 1985, it merged with the Postal and Telecommunications Group of the <a href="/facts/Civil_and_Public_Services_Association/yyLp28JM">Civil and Public Services Association</a>, forming the <a href="/facts/National_Communications_Union/danCR1WW">National Communications Union</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:7" href="#fn:7"><sup>7</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="election-results">Election results</h2> <p>The union sponsored <a href="/facts/Labour_Party_(UK)/jr0wYRdF">Labour Party</a> candidates in each Parliamentary election from 1966 onwards. </p> <table><tbody><tr><th>Election</th><th>Constituency</th><th>Candidate</th><th>Votes</th><th>Percentage</th><th>Position</th></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/1966_United_Kingdom_general_election/UcxzdjhJ">1966 general election</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Isle_of_Ely_(UK_Parliament_constituency)/FzTt3Da6">Isle of Ely</a></td><td>Graham Nurse</td><td>19,566</td><td>43.8</td><td>2<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:8" href="#fn:8"><sup>8</sup></a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/1969_Newcastle-under-Lyme_by-election/bj0FH5N9">1969 by-election</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Newcastle-under-Lyme_(UK_Parliament_constituency)/DvUaDGAL">Newcastle-under-Lyme</a></td><td><a href="/facts/John_Golding_(British_politician)/rylfbzVq">John Golding</a></td><td>21,786</td><td>46.1</td><td>1</td></tr><tr><td rowspan="3"><a href="/facts/1970_United_Kingdom_general_election/1vcppCbb">1970 general election</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Colchester_(UK_Parliament_constituency)/uhVvmohV">Colchester</a></td><td>John Bartlett</td><td>20,325</td><td>35.0</td><td>2<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:9" href="#fn:9"><sup>9</sup></a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Mitcham_(UK_Parliament_constituency)/hs7DTuMy">Mitcham</a></td><td>Reginald Vincent</td><td>22,047</td><td>44.2</td><td>2<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:10" href="#fn:10"><sup>10</sup></a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Newcastle-under-Lyme_(UK_Parliament_constituency)/DvUaDGAL">Newcastle-under-Lyme</a></td><td><a href="/facts/John_Golding_(British_politician)/rylfbzVq">John Golding</a></td><td>22,329</td><td>48.9</td><td>1<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:11" href="#fn:11"><sup>11</sup></a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/1973_Westhoughton_by-election/Ujnb7FlL">1973 by-election</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Westhoughton_(UK_Parliament_constituency)/koMJTmvJ">Westhoughton</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Roger_Stott/3Ubo7fY9">Roger Stott</a></td><td>26,294</td><td>57.0</td><td>1</td></tr><tr><td rowspan="3"><a href="/facts/February_1974_United_Kingdom_general_election/GWwHrIVz">Feb 1974 general election</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Edinburgh_Pentlands_(UK_Parliament_constituency)/UpfwmSmA">Edinburgh Pentlands</a></td><td><a href="/facts/John_McWilliam_(Labour_politician)/z05lAlro">John McWilliam</a></td><td>13,560</td><td>30.8</td><td>2<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:12" href="#fn:12"><sup>12</sup></a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Newcastle-under-Lyme_(UK_Parliament_constituency)/DvUaDGAL">Newcastle-under-Lyme</a></td><td><a href="/facts/John_Golding_(British_politician)/rylfbzVq">John Golding</a></td><td>28,603</td><td>47.2</td><td>1<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:13" href="#fn:13"><sup>13</sup></a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Westhoughton_(UK_Parliament_constituency)/koMJTmvJ">Westhoughton</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Roger_Stott/3Ubo7fY9">Roger Stott</a></td><td>30,574</td><td>51.5</td><td>1<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:14" href="#fn:14"><sup>14</sup></a></td></tr><tr><td rowspan="2"><a href="/facts/October_1974_United_Kingdom_general_election/MQ5K0XAo">Oct 1974 general election</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Newcastle-under-Lyme_(UK_Parliament_constituency)/DvUaDGAL">Newcastle-under-Lyme</a></td><td><a href="/facts/John_Golding_(British_politician)/rylfbzVq">John Golding</a></td><td>28,154</td><td>49.6</td><td>1<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:15" href="#fn:15"><sup>15</sup></a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Westhoughton_(UK_Parliament_constituency)/koMJTmvJ">Westhoughton</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Roger_Stott/3Ubo7fY9">Roger Stott</a></td><td>30,373</td><td>54.1</td><td>1<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:16" href="#fn:16"><sup>16</sup></a></td></tr><tr><td rowspan="4"><a href="/facts/1979_United_Kingdom_general_election/mpu1y8wU">1979 general election</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Bexleyheath_(UK_Parliament_constituency)/TbrIpcA6">Bexleyheath</a></td><td>Richard Blackwell</td><td>13,342</td><td>32.7</td><td>2<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:17" href="#fn:17"><sup>17</sup></a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Blaydon_(UK_Parliament_constituency)/KjEV4LSu">Blaydon</a></td><td><a href="/facts/John_McWilliam_(Labour_politician)/z05lAlro">John McWilliam</a></td><td>24,687</td><td>53.4</td><td>1<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:18" href="#fn:18"><sup>18</sup></a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Newcastle-under-Lyme_(UK_Parliament_constituency)/DvUaDGAL">Newcastle-under-Lyme</a></td><td><a href="/facts/John_Golding_(British_politician)/rylfbzVq">John Golding</a></td><td>28,649</td><td>48.5</td><td>1<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:19" href="#fn:19"><sup>19</sup></a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Westhoughton_(UK_Parliament_constituency)/koMJTmvJ">Westhoughton</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Roger_Stott/3Ubo7fY9">Roger Stott</a></td><td>29,685</td><td>48.2</td><td>1<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:20" href="#fn:20"><sup>20</sup></a></td></tr><tr><td rowspan="3"><a href="/facts/1983_United_Kingdom_general_election/79gnkoQW">1983 general election</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Blaydon_(UK_Parliament_constituency)/KjEV4LSu">Blaydon</a></td><td><a href="/facts/John_McWilliam_(Labour_politician)/z05lAlro">John McWilliam</a></td><td>21,285</td><td>44.4</td><td>1</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Newcastle-under-Lyme_(UK_Parliament_constituency)/DvUaDGAL">Newcastle-under-Lyme</a></td><td><a href="/facts/John_Golding_(British_politician)/rylfbzVq">John Golding</a></td><td>21,210</td><td>42.0</td><td>1</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Wigan_(UK_Parliament_constituency)/25kM6Llp">Wigan</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Roger_Stott/3Ubo7fY9">Roger Stott</a></td><td>29,859</td><td>54.6</td><td>1</td></tr></tbody></table> <h2 id="leadership">Leadership</h2> <h3>General Secretaries</h3> 1915: <a href="/facts/Charles_Howard_Smith_(trade_unionist)/9vrTuq6Y">Charles Howard Smith</a> 1938: <a href="/facts/John_Edwards_(English_politician)/SlMULe70">John Edwards</a> 1947: <a href="/facts/Douglas_Coward/33ohSw0T">Douglas Coward</a> 1953: <a href="/facts/Charles_Delacourt-Smith/l6bhJT1y">Charles Delacourt-Smith</a> 1972: <a href="/facts/Bryan_Stanley/cRMq19mw">Bryan Stanley</a> <h3>Presidents</h3> 1915: E. W. Bennett 1921: H. A. Barclay 1924: E. W. Goodwin 1926: H. G. Hill 1933: C. T. Saunders 1934: E. W. Goodwin 1935: C. J. Connelly 1936: A. V. Games 1939: Ernie Power 1951: W. J. A. Hughes 1952: L. G. Fox 1955: W. J. Jones 1956: Stan Rosser 1970: John Scott-Garner <h2 id="external-links">External links</h2> <ul><li><a href="https://mrc.epexio.com/records/PEU">Catalogue of the POEU archives</a>, held at the <a href="/facts/Modern_Records_Centre,_University_of_Warwick/utQSc27V">Modern Records Centre, University of Warwick</a></li> <li><a href="https://mrc.epexio.com/records/ESA">Catalogue of the POESA archives</a>, held at the Modern Records Centre, University of Warwick</li></ul> <h2 id="references">References</h2> <ol> <li id="fn:1"><p>Clark, Jon; McLoughlin, Ian; Rose, Howard; King, Robin (1988). Clark, Jon (ed.). The Process of Technological Change: New technology and social choice in the workplace. Cambridge Studies in Management. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. p. 63. ISBN 0-521-38698-5. Retrieved 19 April 2013. <a href="0-521-38698-5" target="_blank">0-521-38698-5</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:2"><p>London Metropolitan University (London North campus): Post Office Engineering Union, AIM25. <a href="http://www.aim25.ac.uk/cats/49/5474.htm" target="_blank">http://www.aim25.ac.uk/cats/49/5474.htm</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:3"><p>John P. Smethurst and Peter Carter, Historical Directory of Trade Unions, p. 456. <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:4"><p>Post Office Engineering Union Research Department 1887-1994 <a href="http://www.warwick.ac.uk/services/library/mrc/ead/135BRD.htm" target="_blank">http://www.warwick.ac.uk/services/library/mrc/ead/135BRD.htm</a> <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:5"><p>Clark, Jon; McLoughlin, Ian; Rose, Howard; King, Robin (1988). Clark, Jon (ed.). The Process of Technological Change: New technology and social choice in the workplace. Cambridge Studies in Management. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. p. 63. ISBN 0-521-38698-5. Retrieved 19 April 2013. <a href="0-521-38698-5" target="_blank">0-521-38698-5</a> <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:6"><p>Clark, Jon; McLoughlin, Ian; Rose, Howard; King, Robin (1988). Clark, Jon (ed.). The Process of Technological Change: New technology and social choice in the workplace. Cambridge Studies in Management. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. p. 63. ISBN 0-521-38698-5. Retrieved 19 April 2013. <a href="0-521-38698-5" target="_blank">0-521-38698-5</a> <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:7"><p>Post Office Engineering Union Research Department 1887-1994 <a href="http://www.warwick.ac.uk/services/library/mrc/ead/135BRD.htm" target="_blank">http://www.warwick.ac.uk/services/library/mrc/ead/135BRD.htm</a> <a href="#fnref:7" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:8"><p>Labour Party, Report of the Sixty-Third Annual Conference of the Labour Party, pp. 158–180. <a href="/wiki/Labour_Party_(UK)" target="_blank">/wiki/Labour_Party_(UK)</a> <a href="#fnref:8" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:9"><p>Labour Party, Report of the Sixty-Ninth Annual Conference of the Labour Party, pp. 289–312. <a href="/wiki/Labour_Party_(UK)" target="_blank">/wiki/Labour_Party_(UK)</a> <a href="#fnref:9" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:10"><p>Labour Party, Report of the Sixty-Ninth Annual Conference of the Labour Party, pp. 289–312. <a href="/wiki/Labour_Party_(UK)" target="_blank">/wiki/Labour_Party_(UK)</a> <a href="#fnref:10" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:11"><p>Labour Party, Report of the Sixty-Ninth Annual Conference of the Labour Party, pp. 289–312. <a href="/wiki/Labour_Party_(UK)" target="_blank">/wiki/Labour_Party_(UK)</a> <a href="#fnref:11" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:12"><p>Labour Party, Report of the Seventy-Third Annual Conference of the Labour Party, pp. 371–390. <a href="/wiki/Labour_Party_(UK)" target="_blank">/wiki/Labour_Party_(UK)</a> <a href="#fnref:12" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:13"><p>Labour Party, Report of the Seventy-Third Annual Conference of the Labour Party, pp. 371–390. <a href="/wiki/Labour_Party_(UK)" target="_blank">/wiki/Labour_Party_(UK)</a> <a href="#fnref:13" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:14"><p>Labour Party, Report of the Seventy-Third Annual Conference of the Labour Party, pp. 371–390. <a href="/wiki/Labour_Party_(UK)" target="_blank">/wiki/Labour_Party_(UK)</a> <a href="#fnref:14" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:15"><p>Labour Party, Report of the Seventy-Third Annual Conference of the Labour Party, pp. 391–411. <a href="/wiki/Labour_Party_(UK)" target="_blank">/wiki/Labour_Party_(UK)</a> <a href="#fnref:15" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:16"><p>Labour Party, Report of the Seventy-Third Annual Conference of the Labour Party, pp. 391–411. <a href="/wiki/Labour_Party_(UK)" target="_blank">/wiki/Labour_Party_(UK)</a> <a href="#fnref:16" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:17"><p>Labour Party, Report of the Seventy-Third Annual Conference of the Labour Party, pp. 371–390. <a href="/wiki/Labour_Party_(UK)" target="_blank">/wiki/Labour_Party_(UK)</a> <a href="#fnref:17" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:18"><p>Labour Party, Report of the Seventy-Third Annual Conference of the Labour Party, pp. 371–390. <a href="/wiki/Labour_Party_(UK)" target="_blank">/wiki/Labour_Party_(UK)</a> <a href="#fnref:18" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:19"><p>Labour Party, Report of the Seventy-Third Annual Conference of the Labour Party, pp. 371–390. <a href="/wiki/Labour_Party_(UK)" target="_blank">/wiki/Labour_Party_(UK)</a> <a href="#fnref:19" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:20"><p>Labour Party, Report of the Seventy-Third Annual Conference of the Labour Party, pp. 371–390. <a href="/wiki/Labour_Party_(UK)" target="_blank">/wiki/Labour_Party_(UK)</a> <a href="#fnref:20" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> </ol>