Union of Communication Workers

The Union of Communication Workers was a trade union in the United Kingdom for workers in the post office and telecommunications industries.

History

The union was founded in 1919 as the Union of Post Office Workers by the merger of the Postmen's Federation, Postal and Telegraph Clerks' Association and the Fawcett Association. It achieved official recognition, and as a result, in 1920 the London Postal Porters' Association, Central London Postmen's Association, Tracers' Association, Tube Staff Association, Messengers' Association and Sorters' Association all merged with it. It was banned legally from TUC membership from 1927 to 1946. Its longest strike was for 7 weeks in 1971.
It changed its name in 1980, and merged with the National Communications Union in 1995 to form the Communication Workers' Union.

Election results

The union sponsored Labour Party candidates in each Parliamentary election. From 1927 until the end of World War II, the union was legally barred from affiliating to the party, so its candidates in that period are omitted from many sources.

Election	Constituency	Candidate	Votes	Percentage	Position
1922 general election	Bury		9,643	36.7	2
1922 general election	Camberwell North		8,320	50.8	1
1922 general election	Carlisle		7,870	37.6	1
1922 general election	Harborough		6,205	28.2	3
1922 general election	Newport (Monmouthshire)		16,000	45.7	2
1922 general election	Stockton-on-Tees		11,183	34.3	2
1923 general election	Bristol East		14,824	53.7	1
1923 general election	Bury		9,568	36.1	2
1923 general election	Camberwell North		10,620	64.2	1
1923 general election	Carlisle		9,120	40.5	1
1923 general election	Newport		14,100	38.6	2
1923 general election	Stockton-on-Tees		10,619	31.2	3
1924 general election	Bristol East		16,920	58.2	1
1924 general election	Bury		10,286	36.1	2
1924 general election	Camberwell North		11,300	54.9	1
1924 general election	Carlisle		10,676	45.5	2
1924 general election	Newport		18,263	47.2	2
1924 general election	Stockton-on-Tees		11,948	33.1	2
1929 general election	Bristol East		24,197	65.8	1
1929 general election	Camberwell North		13,051	57.9	1
1929 general election	Carlisle		12,779	40.4	1
1929 general election	Crewe		20,948	50.2	1
1929 general election	Stockton-on-Tees		18,961	41.2	1
1929 general election	Walthamstow East		11,039	39.6	1
1931 general election	Camberwell North		9,869	48.1	2
1931 general election	Carlisle		13,445	42.7	2
1931 general election	Crewe		18,351	42.2	2
1931 general election	Stockton-on-Tees		18,168	38.4	2
1931 general election	Walthamstow East		9,983	31.2	2
1935 general election	Camberwell North		11,701	64.7	1
1935 general election	Crewe		20,620	48.7	2
1935 general election	Walthamstow East		14,378	46.0	2
1945 general election	Clitheroe		19,443	53.7	1
1945 general election	Heston and Isleworth		29,192	54.3	1
1945 general election	Walthamstow East		15,650	51.1	1
1950 general election	Clitheroe		18,359	43.8	2
1950 general election	Heston and Isleworth		29,013	43.6	2
1950 general election	Walthamstow East		18,478	47.0	1
1951 general election	Droylsden		26,829	51.8	1
1951 general election	Dumfriesshire		16,669	38.7	2
1951 general election	Mitcham		28,187	45.3	2
1951 general election	Walthamstow East		19,036	47.5	1
1955 general election	Manchester Openshaw		24,638	59.7	1
1955 general election	Walthamstow East		15,744	43.1	2
1955 by-election	Gateshead West		13,196	66.5	1
1959 general election	Manchester Openshaw		24,975	60.2	1
1959 general election	Gateshead West		21,277	64.9	1
1963 by-election	Manchester Openshaw		16,101	65.9	1
1964 general election	Bristol North East		21,212	44.2	2
1964 general election	Gateshead West		21,390	69.0	1
1964 general election	Manchester Openshaw		22,589	59.6	1
1966 general election	Brighton Kemptown		24,936	50.8	1
1966 general election	Bristol North East		25,699	54.2	1
1966 general election	Gateshead West		20,381	74.8	1
1966 general election	Manchester Openshaw		22,103	64.9	1
1970 general election	Brighton Kemptown		21,105	42.9	2
1970 general election	Bristol North East		22,792	49.5	2
1970 general election	Manchester Openshaw		19,397	60.2	1
1971 by-election	Stirling and Falkirk		17,536	46.5	1
Feb 1974 general election	Brighton Kemptown		19,484	38.1	2
Feb 1974 general election	Hampstead		17,279	38.3	2
Feb 1974 general election	Manchester Openshaw		16,478	53.5	1
Feb 1974 general election	Stirling, Falkirk and Grangemouth		21,685	41.9	1
Feb 1974 general election	Western Isles		2,879	19.2	2
Oct 1974 general election	Brighton Kemptown		19,060	40.3	2
Oct 1974 general election	Hampstead		16,414	40.6	2
Oct 1974 general election	Manchester Openshaw		16,109	57.6	1
Oct 1974 general election	Stirling, Falkirk and Grangemouth		22,090	43.3	1
1979 general election	Manchester Openshaw		17,099	62.1	1
1979 general election	Stirling, Falkirk and Grangemouth		29,499	56.5	1
1983 general election	Falkirk East		17,956	47.7	1
1987 general election	Falkirk East		21,379	54.2	1
1992 general election	Falkirk East		18,423	46.1	1