Drivers’ Union resignation

Press, 28 March 1981, Page 6

Drivers’ Union resignation

The president of .the Canterbury Drivers* Union, Mr, D. Collins, has resigned from the union after his conviction in-/, the District Court yesterday on four charges of the theft of'petrol from his employers, BP (N.Z.) Ltd. > Normally the vice-presi-dent would assume the presidency until the next election, but the vice-president, Mr John Masson, was recently dismissed from his job 1: with Refrigerated Freight Lines and has left the- industry* The secretary of the union, Mr P. R. Liggett, said that Mr Masson wa> still a member of t he union and under the rules would tremain so for another two months. However, he understood that his resigna-

tion. would be submitted to the union’s executive 'meeting on Wednesday. '• - ' ; - Mr Masson was dismissed in’ February for refusing to carry out a company instruction -to lift a pig carcase.- The other drivers went on strike demanding his reinstatement and the union asserted he was being victimised because of his official capacity, Mr L.- Fortune, acting as conciliator, upheld the company in a disputes c- mmittee decision.

Mr Liggett said the replacement of the two officers would be a matter for. the executive to decide at the meeting, but the likely outcome would be the appointment of an interim president from the executive until the union’s half-yearly meeting in May.