Mr Andersen stands for F.O.L. post

Press, 4 August 1981, Page 1

Mr Andersen stands for F.O.L. post

By.

GLENN HASZARD

Mr Bill Andersen, the Auckland trade unionist whom the Prime Minister (Mr Muldoon) has often singled out for sharp rebuke because of his membership of the Socialist Unity Party, is one of 10 trade unionists who have accepted nomination for two vacancies on the executive of the Federation of Labour.

Il elected. Mr Andersen, who is president of the S.U.P.. would become the second member of the S.U.P. to join the executive. The other is the F.O.L. secretary. Mr K. G. Douglas, who was elected to that position when Mr W. J. Knox was elected to replace Sir Thomas Skinner as F.O.L. president.

Mr Andersen. agecTs7. has been in the trade union movement for many years, and is one of those who like Mr Knox, was a watersider who “stood firm" during the 1951 waterfront dispute.

Although Mr Andersen has been prominent in trade union affairs since the 19505, it has been the publicity generated by the National Government in the last six years that has brought him into the limelight more than anything else. A two-night stint in prison in an injunction case involving harbour ferries during the Labour Administration in 1974, however. caused considerable publicity.

Mr Andersen has not previously stood for a position in the F.O.L. When inter; viewed by “The Press" after addressing a stop-work meeting at Huntly yestereday he declined to say why he had left it until now to make such a move.

He was elected president of the Auckland Trades Council after Sir Thomas Skinner retired in 1979. Until then he was vice-president. He is also national secretary of the small, but powerful Engine Drivers’ Union, advocate for the Baking' Trades Union, and secretary of the Northern Drivers’ Union.

Mr Knox declined to name those who have been nomin-

ated for the two executive positions, created by a decision of the F.O.L. conference in May this year to extend the executive from six to eight. However, “The Press” has obtained the names from other sources.

They include three Christchurch trade unionists — the national secretary of the Meat Workers’ Union, Mr A. J. Kennedy, formerly of Dunedin; the secretary of the Canterbury Drivers’ Union, Mr P. R. Liggett; and the vice-president of the Canterbury Trades Council and secretary of the Canterbury Storemen and Packers’. Union. Mr P. E. Piesse.

The other nominations are Mr G. B. Reid, secretary of the Otago Drivers’ Union; Mr P. Kelly, president of the Wellington Trades Council and secretary of the Wellington Cleaners' union; Mrs J. Howie, field officer with the Wellington Clothing Trades Union: Mr D. S. Grant, secretary of the Railway Tradesmen’s Assocation; Mr Pat Baker, an official with the Engineers’ Union’ and Mr R. Barker, secretary of The Otago Hotel Workers’ Union.

Mr Knox said that ballot papers had already been sent out by the returning officer, and he expected the result would be declared at the end of this month.