The survey was conducted by the Centre for Television Research, University of Leeds, in July 1968. Its main purpose was to discern the influence of the mass media on various levels of union membership. I am indebted to Dr Jay Blumler for making the data on incomes policy, which has not previously been used, available to me.

The sample was drawn from membership in the AEF, NALGO, SOGAT and GMWU in Leeds; it was found that despite the GMWU's official support for the policy, its members were no more disposed to the policy than those in the AEF, although both were more favourable to it than SOGAT members whose union leadership had opposed the policy consistently since the summer of 1965. It was the white-collar NALGO membership, whose occupations were the most ‘middle-class’ (in terms of status rather than income) who responded more favourably than other trade unionists at this time to the incomes policy. The difficulty of making even a TUC policy viable, was indicated by the fact that only 13% of the rank and file, 16% of shop stewards and 24% of officials considered helping the TUC to run its policy a top union priority.