Post Office Engineering Union
Encyclopedia
The Post Office Engineering Union (POEU) was a trade union
in the United Kingdom
. It represented engineering staff in the Post Office
, mostly working in telecommunications.
The union was founded in 1915 when the Post Office Engineering and Stores Association and the Amalgamated Society of Telephone Employees to form the Post Office Amalgamated Engineering and Stores Association. In 1922, following the establishment of the Irish Free State
, the union's Irish section split away to form the Irish Post Office Engineering Union. In 1925, the Post Office Telegraph Mechanicians' Society joined the union. However, by 1939, membership was only 39,000.
By 1983, the POEU was the twentieth largest union in the UK, with membership around 130,000. In 1985, it merged with the Postal and Telecommunications Group of the Civil and Public Services Association
, forming the National Communications Union
.
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. It represented engineering staff in the Post Office
Post office
A post office is a facility forming part of a postal system for the posting, receipt, sorting, handling, transmission or delivery of mail.Post offices offer mail-related services such as post office boxes, postage and packaging supplies...
, mostly working in telecommunications.
The union was founded in 1915 when the Post Office Engineering and Stores Association and the Amalgamated Society of Telephone Employees to form the Post Office Amalgamated Engineering and Stores Association. In 1922, following the establishment of the Irish Free State
Irish Free State
The Irish Free State was the state established as a Dominion on 6 December 1922 under the Anglo-Irish Treaty, signed by the British government and Irish representatives exactly twelve months beforehand...
, the union's Irish section split away to form the Irish Post Office Engineering Union. In 1925, the Post Office Telegraph Mechanicians' Society joined the union. However, by 1939, membership was only 39,000.
By 1983, the POEU was the twentieth largest union in the UK, with membership around 130,000. In 1985, it merged with the Postal and Telecommunications Group of the Civil and Public Services Association
Civil and Public Services Association
The Civil and Public Services Association was a trade union in the United Kingdom, representing civil servants.The union was founded in 1921, when the Civil Service Clerical Union and the Clerical Officers' Association merged to form the Civil Service Clerical Association. It affiliated with the...
, forming the National Communications Union
National Communications Union
The National Communications Union was a trade union in the United Kingdom.The union was founded in 1985 when the Post Office Engineering Union and the Postal and Telecommunications Group of the Civil and Public Services Association merged...
.
General Secretaries
- 1915:
- 1938: John Edwards
- 1947: D. J. W. Coward
- 1953: George Delacourt-Smith
- 1972: Bryan StanleyBryan StanleyBryan Capewell Stanley was a British trade union leader.Born in Walsall , and educated at Queen Mary's Grammar School, Stanley started work with the Post Office in 1942, and also joined the Post Office Engineering Union...