M.O.T. officers to form union

Press, 30 August 1984, Page 15

M.O.T. officers to form union

PA Wellington Traffic officers have voted to leave the Public Service Association and form their own union. A poll of Ministry of Transport traffic officers, which resulted in a 70 per cent response, voted by a big majority to break away from the P.S.A., the secretary of the Police Association, Dr Bob. Moodie, has said. Dr Moodie, who is acting for the traffic officers, said he would seek talks with the P.S.A. to discuss formation of a new union for traffic officers. He said no talks had yet been organised but he hoped to talk to P.S.A. officials within the next week. He wanted time to study the result of the poll. Dr Moodie said that he would not disclose voting figures until he

had discussed the matter with the P.S.A. Many traffic officers are keen to form a union similar to the Police Association. They consider they have needs and face problems that make them unique in the public service. The president of the P.S.A., Mr Colin Hicks, said that no approach had been made to the P.S.A. by traffic officers wishing to form their own union. If one was made the P.S.A. would meet the group. The trend was for amalgamation of unions, he said. There are about 1000 traffic officers. More than 90 per cent were members of the P.S.A. Any new State union has to meet a number of Government requirements, and an approach has to be made to the Minister of Labour.