-BOB EDWARDS, MP., General Secretary of the Chemical Workers' Union told the TUC last week that the merger with the National Union of General and Municipal Workers favoured by his union's executive had broken down at the discussion stage by his union's shop stewards. It is felt that militant left-wing elements in the C.W.U. will. veto any further linkup approaches with the N.U.G.M.W.
Writing in the N.U.G.M.W. Journal this month, David Bassett, one of the union's industrial officers’ criticises the C.W.U. and accuses it of disregard of facts. "It is hoped", he days, "that the C.W.U. will in time come to recognise their importance", But Mr, Bassett's reprimand may well be an attempt *o overlook the political facts surrounding the merger, for the question of the merger as seen by C.W.U. shop stewards will be measured against any decrease in militancy which might result from involve=ment in the NUGMW, with it& concern for many more sectors of industry and less intimate knowledge of the Chemical Workers' problems,