Nelson drivers reject Canterbury challenge

Press, 30 June 1988, Page 3

Nelson drivers reject Canterbury challenge

By

RICHARD CRESSWELL

The Canterbury and Westland Drivers’ Union was not deterred by a drivers’ ballot in the Nelson and Blenheim area which rejected the Canterbury union. “We will keep challenging for members,” said the president of the Canterbury and Westland union, Mr Fred Simmons, yesterday. Drivers at meetings yesterday and on Tuesday in Blenheim and Nelson rejected membership of the Canterbury union by 46 votes to two. The Nelson-Blenheim Drivers’ Union is covered by the Distribution Workers’ Federation and has about 750 members, fewer than the 1000 required by the Labour Relations Act.

The contestability ballot, believed the first under the act, is also the first in a series of "attacks” planned by the Canterbury union. The Canterbury union wants to bring Nelson and Blenheim drivers under its coverage. This week’s ballots in Nelson and Blenheim covered about 120 drivers. The national seccretary of the Distribution Workers’ Federation, Mr Paul Kimble, said contestability ballots were also set for local body and Transpac drivers in August and October. Mr Kimble said this week’s vote showed there was little interest in being taken over by the Canterbury union. “We have always been critical of the Canterbury union, and we should be concentrating on more

important issues such as the changes in the road transport industry,” he said.

He said contestability was opposed by the Council of Trade Unions because it weakened unions and wasted time and money.

“We are forced to hold the meetings for voting, which wastes time, but this will not be the end and the Canterbury union will continue contesting to create problems.” The federation might have to contest Canterbury union members, he said.

“You have to defend yourselves.”

Mr Simmons said the union would look at-the way this week’s ballots were run.

The ballots should have been secret and not in open meetings, he said.