Mr Campbell to step down

Press, 9 July 1986, Page 1

Mr Campbell to step down

By

PATRICIA HERBERT

in Wellington

Mr Rob Campbell will step down as secretary of the Distribution Workers’ Federation next May. He made the announcement yesterday, saying only that he thought a change in the post was desirable “both personally and for the organisation.” His impending resignation, however, must fuel speculation that he plans to go for a leadership role in the Council of Trade Unions when it is formally established in

October next year. Mr Campbell has long been tipped as a hot contender for one of the top jobs in the C.T.U., and did not deny yesterday that he might have such ambitions. Neither did he deny that he might intend to contest the presidency of the Labour Party when Ms Margaret Wilson retires next year. Rumours about this have been circulating for months. Mr Campbell helped es-

tablish the Distribution Workers’ Federation — an amalgamation of the Drivers, Shop Employees and the Auckland and Canterbury Stores Unions.

The federation has a membership of 65,000, was set up last year, and has been administered from Wellington but is now being decentralised with an office in Auckland and another planned for the South Island before the end of the year. As part of the reorganisation, Mr Stu McCaffley, a long-serving drivers’ union official, has chosen to leave next month.

Mr Campbell said his decision to stand down as secretary did not mean that he would not continue to work for the federation but meant only that he would work for it in “some other capacity.” Mr Campbell is a member of the Federation of Labour executive and is advocate in wage negotiations for awards covering drivers, shop employees, and stores workers. He is also on the board of the Bank of New Zealand.