Wagstaff to head CTU

The PSA announces:

After 16 years as national secretary of the Public Service Association (PSA), Richard Wagstaff tendered his resignation to the PSA executive board this morning.

Richard is the sole nominee for the role of CTU President, and is to lead the New Zealand union movement after Helen Kelly’s term ends at the CTU congress on October 14-15.

Erin Polaczuk, PSA’s other national secretary, said “The PSA owes significant thanks to Richard, who has served with great distinction,”

“Since becoming national secretary, Richard has seen the PSA grow from 40,000 members to where we are today with nearly 62,000 members.

“Richard began his union career as a researcher for the PSA in 1988. He continued in that role for 3 years before becoming an organiser in the health, disability and public service sectors in Auckland. In 1997, Richard became operations manager, his last role prior to appointment as national secretary in late 1999.

Richard and I were actually on the same five day Institute of Directors course, around a decade ago. I was impressed that a union was sending senior officials on governance courses.

Helen Kelly has been a very high profile advocate for the CTU. Richard will have big boots to fill.