The Union of Post Office Workers 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 UPW changed its name to the Union of Communication Workers in 1980. In 1995 the union merged with the National Communications Union to form the Communication Workers' Union.
Reference: Alan Clinton, Post Office Workers : a trade union and social history. (London, 1984.).
From the guide to the Papers of the Union of Communication Workers, 1883-1990s, (Modern Records Centre, University of Warwick Library)
