Union posts settled by agreement

Press, 20 November 1982, Page 7

Union posts settled by agreement

PA Wellington A move to restrain three members of the New Zealand Plumbers and Gasfitters’ Union from taking top executive posts in the union has been settled by agreement in the High Court at Wellington. Under the agreement, six other union members who took over appointments at a meeting in Christchurch on October 11 and October 12 will refrain from taking up

the posts. The High Court move was initiated by the Northern branch of the union acting on behalf of officers elected at the union’s national conference in Auckland in March. At the March annual conference, Mr Ken Dixon (Invercargill) was elected president, Mr Bob Larkin (Dunedin) vice-president, and Mr Graeme Page (Auckland) secretary. Mr Page is also secretary of the union’s

Northern branch. At an unofficial meeting in Christchurch on October 11 and October 12 at which neither the Northern branch, which covers approximately 50 per cent of the union’s national membership, nor the Southland branch was represented, the officials elected in March were dismissed. In their place, the Christchurch meeting appointed Mr James Worstford (Christchurch), interim national president, Mr Donald Bel-

lamy (New Plymouth) interim national vice-presi-dent and Mr Norman Dewes (Christchurch) interim national secretary. Mr Dewes is also secretary of the Canterbury-Westland branch. The agreement registered in the High Court at Wellington on Thursday provides:— • That the business of the national union continues to be controlled by officials elected at the March conference.

• That officials appointed at the October Christchurch meeting refrain from attempting to take up their respective offices. • That at a full national meeting on December 13, matters relating to the tenure of office for the elected members and capitation fees be decided. The High Court hearing on Wednesday was before Mr Justice Jeffries, who congratulated the parties on the settlement.