Traffic Officers Object

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31321, 17 March 1967, Page 1

Traffic Officers Object

Traffic officers employed by the Christchurch City Council object to wearing name labels on their tunics, and have asked the council not to enforce the wearing of labels.

Officers thought some persons would take advantage of the use of tags, and some felt persons might telephone their homes and cause trouble, the secretary of the Canterbury Local Bodies’ Officers (other than clerical) Industrial Union of Workers Mr B. Alderdice) said yesterday. Officers would give their names to the public if they were asked properly, he said. Policemen did not use nametags, and many traffic officers did not think they should.

The decision to have traffic officers wear a name label above the right top pocket of their uniforms was made at the last meeting of the City Council. The traffic committee re-

ported that the use of name tags improved public relations and the average citizen welcomed the opportunity of being able to address officers by name. The committee had thought that the tags would not be detrimental or cause embarrassment, and should help to keep discussions between officers and motorists “on a semipersonal and friendly basis

which should bring about the much-needed co-operation between motorists and enforcement officers.”

Mr Alderdice said that after the council’s decision, a secret ballot was taken among officers, and most voted against the name tags. The union then wrote to the council and asked it not to proceed with the use of the tags. The council’s traffic committee met on Wednesday, and its reports will be presented to the monthly council meeting on Monday.