Union loses founder

Press, 6 April 1981, Page 13

Union loses founder

New Zealand’s first union for executive workers, Apex, has lost its founder and national secretary, Mr J. E. Cornhill, of Christchurch. The organisation, which is only a few members short of national-union status and is designated an “industrial society of workers,” was formed in August, 1978. Mr Cornhill has also resigned from his post as Canteubury section secretary of the Public Service Association. He went to Australia on leave, but found a job while there and will not return. The Canterbury regional secretary of the P.S.A., Mr J. M. McKenzie, said that Mr Cornhill’s wife had gone to Australia earlier because she had not been able to find a job in New Zealand, and the

couple had decided to settle there when Mr Cornhill got a job. Mr Cornhill was with the P.S.A. for five years, the last three as section secretary. Mrs Lesley Keast is acting section secretary for the P.S.A., while Mr David Tanner has assumed the post of acting field officer. The P.S.A. is advertising for an administrative clerk. The Christchurch branch of Apex met on Monday and moves are afoot to find a replacement for Mr Cornhill. Apex represents managers, scientists, and technical workers not covered byawards. One of Mr Cornhill’s most active campaigns on behalf of the organisation was over the salaries of technical staff at the Canterbury Museum.