Physical Science, Measurement and Instrumentation, Management and Education, IEE Proceedings A

The author shows how the Electrical Electronic Telecommunication & Plumbing Union (EETPU) has responded to, and sometimes been an agent of, change in the trade union world. The union has endeavoured to reach its decisions on a wide democratic base of the opinions of members, leading to clashes with more traditional unions and finally expulsion from the TUC. This experience of adjusting to technological change is discussed in relation to British industry, its work people and managers, and the initiatives of the EETPU in training are described.