ABSTRACT
By mid-1982 there were three main trade unions in the printing and paper industry. The two production unions were SOGAT and the NGA which was now a single-craft union. In publishing and newspaper production the major non-manual employees’ union was the National Union of Journalists. In the spring of 1983 SOGAT and NGA re-affirmed their commitment to one union for the media, communications and allied industries and in particular to their own amalgamation. A joint statement said:
SOGAT and the NGA agreed that in order to achieve this objective there is a compelling necessity to promote a better understanding between the two unions of our mutual problems; to develop closer working relationships, to strive for better inter-union climates and take urgent steps to resolve some of the outstanding issues between the two unions.
The economic recession and the disregard of the interests of working people by this Government, the dreadful misery and degradation of unemployment, compounded by the threats of challenges of new technology required a strong and united trade union response, and thus could be more effectively developed by the creation of one union for the media, communications and allied industries.
SOGAT (82) and NGA (82) representatives will recommend to their respective National Executive Councils to look favourably towards reopening discussions at the earliest opportunity, bearing in mind the current discussion between the NGA and the NUJ. 1
