ABSTRACT
The British civil service comprises over 300,000 members, divided into literally hundreds of grades exclusive of the Industrial Staffs, who number another 150,000 or thereabouts. The Great War and its aftermath made Civil Service Trade Unionism an effective force. The pace-maker in the development was the Assistant Clerks’ Association, known as the Civil Service Clerical Association. War and post-war conditions profoundly altered the machinery for dealing with Service disputes. Arbitration, of course, presupposes prior discussion and negotiation. By 1918 the development of the Service had compelled the Treasury to abandon its position of detachment in relation to Civil Service Associations. By agreement between the Government and the Service Associations a National Whitley Council was established to deal with matters common to the whole Service and with the wages and conditions of classes employed in two or more departments. The Whitley system has the effect of bringing to the notice of the Official Side the brighter spirits among the Staff.
