THE B.B.C.

Evening Star, Issue 22955, 12 May 1938, Page 11

THE 8.8. C.

FAMILY AFFAIRS A CONCERN Divorce, marriage, and maternity are setting the 8.8. C. several difficult problems, says Garry Allighan. New rules governing these matters are being drafted by Sir John Reith. There has always been a strict 8.8. C. regulation that any member of the staff who is the “ guilty party ” in a divorce case must leave the service. Recently five 8.8. C. officials have been concerned in divorce actions. During the 10 years of its history the 8.8. C. have dismissed six officials on account of divorce proceedings. Marriage is also giving the 8.8. C. a puzzle. ‘ Ariel,’ the 8.8. C. staff magazine, has some caustic remarks to make on the working of “ the marriage ban,” which, it suggests, is not uniform in operation. “ It depends entirely on the status or grading of the woman concerned, so that she has to be pretty high up and formidable in order to retain her job after marriage. The smaller fry disappear automatically.” On the question of maternity feeling runs very high. Female members of the staff have received a memorandum stating that if any of them “ contemplate maternity ” they must inform the Director of Internal Affairs, who will advise them as to the effect it will have on their staff position. All these domestic matters could be dealt with by a staff organisation. It is now proposed that the 8.8. C. authorities should organise a “ house union ” which members of the staff must join. Such “ company unionism ” will be fiercely fought by the trade unions.