§ Mr. Nicholas Edwardsasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the dispute between the National Guild of Telephonists and the Post Office, which has been notified to his Department.
§ Mr. BryanEarlier this year the Post Office decided to grant sole recognition for telephonists to the Union of Post Office Workers and to withdraw recognition from the National Guild of Telephonists, whose members had shortly before rejected by ballot a proposal for merger with the Union of Post Office Workers. Following an approach from the Guild my Officers had extensive discussions with representatives of the Guild and the Post Office during July and August. The Post Office subsequently informed the Guild that after reconsidering all the factors involved they did not propose to alter their decision to withdraw recognition from the Guild from 1st September, 1970.