[2] The National Telephone Company's Brighton office was known for poor working conditions and, in 1891, an ETU branch was formed there, led by Alfred Ewer.

In response, the union decided to appoint its first full-time general secretary; Arthur Walker was elected unopposed.

[2] Steadman was unable to solve the union's problems, and membership reached an all-time low of 236 members at the end of 1895.

While this produced mixed results, membership began to recover, and a successful strike in Bolton in 1899, and an agreement signed with Sheffield Town Council in 1900 further improved his reputation.

[2] Alfred Ewer was elected as Sims' replacement, and the union joined the Federation of Engineering and Shipbuilding Trades in 1906.

[2] The ETU was known to have enjoyed close contacts with the London branch of the Caribbean Labour Congress led by communist activist Billy Strachan.

[5] In June 1961, the ETU was taken to court by Jock Byrne and Frank Chapple, arguing that members of the CPGB had been part of a "conspiracy to defraud" in internal elections.