The Radio and Electronic Officers' Union (REOU) was a

trade union A trade union (labor union in American English), often simply referred to as a union, is an organization of workers intent on "maintaining or improving the conditions of their employment", ch. I such as attaining better wages and benefits ( ...

representing radio operators on British civilian ships.

History

The union was founded in 1921, when the Association of Wireless Telegraphists merged with the Cable and Telegraph Operators' Association, forming the Association of Wireless and Cable Telegraphists. The majority of early members worked for the

Marconi Company The Marconi Company was a British telecommunications and engineering company that did business under that name from 1963 to 1987. Its roots were in the Wireless Telegraph & Signal Company founded by Italian inventor Guglielmo Marconi in 1897 ...

Siemens Brothers Siemens Brothers and Company Limited was an electrical engineering design and manufacturing business in London, England. It was first established as a branchThe company started with a small factory at 12 Millbank Row, Westminster SW1, London, ne ...

, or the Radio Communication Company. The union was successful, and by 1922 it had about 4,500 members, and was a member of the Seafarers' Joint Council. It undertook a strike in 1922, which achieved agreement on a standard pay scale, and another in 1925 in opposition to a pay cut.{{cite book , last1=Kitchen , first1=Jonathan S. , title=The Employment of Merchant Seamen , date=2017 , publisher=Routledge , isbn=1351806785 However, it devoted much of its time to negotiating with the

Engineering Employers' Federation Make UK, formerly the Engineering Employers' Federation, represents manufacturers in the United Kingdom. Purpose Make UK provides businesses with advice, guidance and support in employment law, employee relations, health, safety, climate and envi ...

. In 1937, the union renamed itself as the Radio Officers' Union. It affiliated to the

Trades Union Congress The Trades Union Congress (TUC) is a national trade union centre A national trade union center (or national center or central) is a federation or confederation of trade unions in a country. Nearly every country in the world has a national tra ...

in 1936, the Officers' (Merchant Navy) Federation in 1940, and the

National Maritime Board :''This is about the Maritime Board in the United Kingdom. For the Board in the Philippines, see National Seamen Board.'' The National Maritime Board (NMB) was a bilateral board governing wages and working practices in the British shipping industr ...

in 1941. In 1967, the union lengthened its name to the Radio and Electronic Officers' Union, in light of it also admitting technicians. By this time, it had members in the Merchant Navy, and also on fishing vessels, oil rigs and related onshore industries. The union merged with the Merchant Navy and Airline Officers' Association and the Mercantile Marine Service Association in 1985, forming the

National Union of Marine, Aviation and Shipping Transport Officers The National Union of Marine, Aviation and Shipping Transport Officers (NUMAST) was a trade union representing seafarers and allied workers, based in the United Kingdom. History Nautilus traces its roots back more than 150 years, when the Mercant ...

General Secretaries

:1921: E. R. Tuck :1929: T. J. O'Donnell :1938: Harry J. Perkins :1949: Hugh O'Neill :1968: Kevin Murphy

References

Defunct trade unions of the United Kingdom Maritime officers' trade unions Transport trade unions in the United Kingdom Trade unions established in 1921 Trade unions disestablished in 1985 Trade unions based in London