Union Dismisses Paid Organiser

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31741, 26 July 1968, Page 1

Union Dismisses Paid Organiser

Mr R. Tirikatene was on Wednesday dismissed as an organiser of the Canterbury Shop Assistants’ Union. He was given two weeks pay in lieu of notice.

When he was approached last evening, Mr Tirikatene said, that he had made an informal approach to the union secretary (Mr B. Alderdice) for a wage increase. “I mentioned a rise of 7.6 per cent but emphasised a rise of 5 per cent, which was in line with what was being offered by some employers at that stage,” he said.

“Mr Alderdice refused at this point and I decided to bring the matter before the

executive of the union. I did this at the July 15 meeting and I was told that I would have to make a written application to be considered by a meeting of the vice-presidents of the union. "The vice-presidents, from the various unions affiliated to the Shop Assistants’ Union, met last Tuesday evening and then they told me on Wednesday morning that my services were no longer required. I received nothing In writing to this effect, nor have I since,” Mr Tirikatene said. Mr Tirikatene said that when he asked for an appeal to be heard by the executive of the union, he was told that he could not appeal. “The refusal of a right of appeal by a union is almost unbelieveable.

I felt that this was victimisation of the worst degree and I intend to make my case through union and other channels available to me,” he said.

Mr Tirikatene said he had nothing to hide and that he would endeavour to have the matter cleared in the open. Mr Tirikatene was a Labour candidate for the Rangiora electorate in the last General Election. He is a minister of the Ratana Church, and a member of the Christchurch Chaplains’ Committee. He is a son of the late member

for Southern Maori (Sir Eruera Tirikatene) and a brother of the present member for Southern Maori, Mrs W. Tiri-katene-Sullivan.