from Public Service (August 1964)*
Every member of NALGO will be asked once again during the next few weeks to say whether he is for or against affiliation to the Trade Union Congress. The ballot ordered by Conference will be held between September 21 and October 12. Ballot cards will be distributed to branches by district organisation officers not later than September 21. All who members of NALGO on July 1, 1964, are entitled to vote...A simple majority of those voting will determine the issue.
In 1962, when Conference ordered the previous ballot, it merely "noted" that the NEC favoured affiliation. This year's motion, by the Scottish district council and the Sussex gas and Yolvérhampton branches, began forthrightly, “That this Conference is in favour of the Association affiliating to the T.U.C.% On a card vote, Conference passed this motion by 199,949 to 67,444 - more than the two-thirds majority needed to order a ballot of membership (Ed, note: this is the highest majority ever for affiliation).
The ballot..will be the sixth NALGO has held on affiliation, The first, in 1942, showed a majority in favour - 40,733 to 28,715. But since 73% of the members in the forces, and 31% of those at home, did not vote, the 1943 Conference decided to take no action. Ballots in 1948,1955, 1958, and 1962, all showed majorities against =- but with a steadily rising proportion of members in favour. In 1962, when 77.5% of those eligible voted, 111,489 were in favour and 117,312 against - a majority against of 5,823. * The official journal of NALGO.