ABSTRACT
This chapter traces the development of industrial relations over the period 1955-91 in three subsectors of the papermaking and paper conversion industry-paper and board, cardboard box and paper bag. In paper-and board-making, industrial relations covering process workers were regulated by the National Agreement between the Employers’ Federation of Papermakers and Boardmakers (subsequently the British Paper and Board Industry Federation)1 and the NUPB&PW (subsequently SOGAT). This agreement provided minimum standards and formed the basis for a second tier of bargaining at company and/or chapel level. There was no national agreement covering minimum standards for staff employees, although in 1972 agreement was reached between the employers’ federation and SOGAT setting the conditions for granting local recognition of the union for staff employees and the procedures to be observed for dealing with disputes in those mills where recognition was granted.
