Reference number
  • UPW
Date
  • 1872-1995
Level
  • Collection
Description
  • This collection includes: rules and related records; executive council and various committee minutes and papers; subject files; periodical and other publications; legal records; branch records.
Extent
  • 247 boxes (240 [MSS.148], 3 [861], 1 [927], 1 [1079, 1171, 1292, 1419], 1 [1133], 1 [1412])
Admin history
  • The Union of Post Office Workers (UPW) was formed in 1919 as the result of the amalgamation of the Postal and Telegraph Clerks' Association, the Fawcett Association and the Postmen's Federation, as well as the following smaller unions: the Adult Messengers' Association; the Bagmen's Association; the Central London Postmen's Association; the London Postal Porters' Association; the Tracers' Association; and the Tube Staff Association. In 1928 a breakaway group from the Union of Post Office Workers formed the National Guild of Telephonists. The Union of Post Office Workers changed its name to the Union of Communication Workers (UCW) in 1980. In 1995 the union merged with the National Communications Union (NCU) to form the Communication Workers' Union (CWU). Reference: Alan Clinton, 'Post Office Workers: a trade union and social history' (London, 1984).
Access status
  • Open
Related material
  • Related archives in the Centre include: the United Kingdom Postal Clerks' Association (MSS.148/PC), the Postal Telegraph Clerks' Association (MSS.148/PT), the Postal and Telegraph Clerks' Association (MSS.148/PA), the Fawcett Association (MSS.148/FA), the Postmen's Federation (MSS.148/PF), the Sorter Tracers' Association (MSS.148/ST), the Postal Porters' Association (MSS.148/PP), the National Federation of Postal and Telegraph Clerks (MSS.148/NF), the National Joint Committee of Postal and Telegraph Associations (MSS.148/NJC), the National Communications Union (MSS.135C), the Society of Post Office Executives (MSS.124), the Council of Post Office Unions (MSS.89); and the Communication Managers' Association (MSS.225/CM).
Language/scripts of material
  • English