Restraining order bid on ‘union activist’

Press, 15 April 1988, Page 2

Restraining order bid on ‘union activist’

By

RICHARD CRESSWELL

The Engineers’ Union yesterday made an application in the Labour Court for an order restraining the activities of what the union’s counsel described as “a well known union activist.”

The union, represented by Miss Barbara Buckett, is asking the Court to ensure that Mr Bill Hoyne, secretary of the Canterbury - Westland Electrical and Related Trades Society, and the New Zealand Electrical Workers’ Union, conform with the Labour Relations Act. The union also seeks to force Mr Hoyne and the Electrical Workers’ Union to cease their activities in the Canterbury-Westland area. Mr Howard Keyte represented both the Electrical Workers’ Union and Mr Bill Hoyne. The case,

before Judge Palmer, is expected to finish today. Miss Buckett said Mr Hoyne was known to the Engineers’ Union as a “union activist.” She said that in the Canterbury-Westland ( district the'iEngineers’ Union traditionally had coverage of electricians and that Mr Hoyne had formed the society to elect electrical workers to join the society. “This society is the vehicle by which Mr Hoyne intends eventually to take electrical workers away from Engineers’ Union coverage.” she said.

Mr Hoyne, who formed the society in August last year, was known to have visited many worksites to approach members of the union. Mr Hoyne’s “agenda” was to denigrate the Engineers” Union’s integrity! and he had made injurious statements about the union,. Miss Buckett ?aid. Mr Hoyne and Mr ilohn Fisher, secretary of the Electrical Workers’ Union, had not made known the extent of 'their activities to the Engineers’ Union. - The Engineers’ Union claims that Mr Hoyne was; showing the direct ( pur-

pose of defeating the present legislation. Mr Greg Harney, president of the Electrical and Related Trades Society, said the society had had two meetings, and had about 289 members. ' Mr Fisher, in evidence, said he had received a letter from Mr Hoyne about the society, and had verbally replied to .I him. He said the Electrical Workers’ Union had not yet decided whether to contest the CanterburyWestland membership of electrical workers. : Miss Buckett * called eight witnesses. Mr Keyte will make a submission today.