Official’s union job queried

Press, 27 October 1982, Page 6

Official’s union job queried

Twenty-five members of the Canterbury Local Body Officers’ Union have called for a special meeting of the union on November 1 to discuss recent action by its executive committee.

Under the union’s rules, a special meeting may be called if sought by at least 25 members. The meeting has been called to look at the appointment of the union’s president, Mr D. R. Mace, as an organiser receiving an honorarium. The petitioners want to know why the executive appointed Mr Mace within a few weeks of the recent annual meeting without notifying members at the meeting; whether it is acceptable for an organiser to be paid while also being an employee of the M.E.D.; and to inquire whether union subscriptions will be increased in the foreseeable future as a result of the appointment of a paid organiser. Mr Mace is in his fourth term as president of the union, which covers mainly officers of the Christchurch City Council and other local bodies; At the annual meeting, the job of the paid secretary, Mr B. Alderdice, also came under scrutiny. A motion asked members to vote

whether the secretary’s position should remain one of appointment or be changed to permit regular elections. The meeting voted to retain the rule which provides for appointment for life.