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 About Us  About Unions NSWAbout UnionsWho's WhoInformation Centre What's Going On? Annual Reports   
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Ernie Razborsek - Industrial Officer
Newcastle Trades HallThe most significant occurrence this year, as reported last year, was the agreement between the Labor Council of NSW and the Newcastle Trades Hall Council to integrate the offices of both Councils, following more than a decade of negotiations. This meant that after nine years of dependable service, Fran Davis took voluntary redundancy from Labor Council and secretarial assistance is now being offered by the Newcastle Trades Hall Council. Ernie moved into the Trades Hall in February this year and reports to both Councils in relation to his duties. With the Labor Council having an office in Newcastle for over 15 years now, moving the office involved a substantial number of documents, which would have future historical interest for the trade union movement, being archived at the University of Newcastle. BHP - Common Purpose GroupThe Common Purpose Group set up to combat BHP job losses last year, continued successfully this year. The Common Purpose Group aims to combine the resources of all the major players in the region to create new economic opportunities. As the initial convenor of the Common Purpose Group, Ernie, in conjunction with other participants, made submissions in response to State and Commonwealth Upper House inquiries into employment, unemployment and regional development. The Group has been a useful vehicle to demonstrate a united regional front on these issues and has had intra and interstate inquiries on its operation. The Group will wind down in 1999 following the completion of the set tasks. Federal ElectionAnother obvious highlight in 1998 was the Federal Election; although Labor was unsuccessful, significant gains were made. The seat of Paterson, based in Maitland in the Hunter, saw the return of Labor's Bob Horne after his defeat in 1996. Ernie reports that almost every union with officials in the region lent their support to the campaign, with some, including the Newcastle Trades Hall Council, contributing considerable resources to the Campaign. Industrial Agreements1998 was also a busy year on the industrial front, with a number of agreements being negotiated for a variety of major construction projects. The Tomago Aluminium Smelter expansion was completed in November with a firm prospect of a 4th potline being built in 2000. This project would employ approximately 1500 people in the construction phase, costing up to $900 million, and would create around 200 permanent direct jobs. Capral Aluminium is considering a similar exercise, which would also be beneficial for the region. Both projects are dependent on closing power contracts and Tomago has sort the assistance of Labor Council to bring negotiations to fruition. Peabody Resources struck an agreement with construction unions, through Labor Council, for a new Agreement to see the company through the construction of its new Bengalla mine and expansion of their Warkworth Mine operations. This is the first time in some years where the unions have negotiated a new agreement with workers already on site. This allowed full consultation with the membership to its final outcome. Construction unions have generally negotiated with these agreements prior to work starting on the site in order to maximise wages and conditions from day one on the job for members. Since the Coalition Government's attacks on unions, through their industrial legislation introduced in 1992, some employers have discouraged workers from joining unions. Construction unions in this region will attempt to put strategic incentives in place in the new year to enhance union membership. This year, Ernie has also assisted individual unions in a number of areas. For example, Ernie assisted the ETU with negotiations for a regional Enterprise Agreement with the Electrical Contractors Association, for members with some of the major contractors operating there. Hunter Water Corp. Employees Assoc.With the unfortunate passing away of Barry Tobin, General Secretary of the Hunter Water Corporation Employees' Association (HWCEA) early in the year, Ernie has been providing assistance to the new Secretary and President, Rodd Williams, with a number of important issues. The HWCEA has now totally integrated its wages and salaried divisions into one structure and with the assistance of Labor Council is negotiating an amalgamation with the ASU (Services) Branch, which should come to fruition in 1999. Assistance is also being lent to negotiate a new EBA for the Corporation, which delivers wage increases over the next 3 years, bringing some 15 awards and agreements into one document. Negotiations will continue in the new year for a new classification structure for over 200 members. The pro-active approach taken by the Association has led some workers, who were not previously members of the Union, to join. The Corporation this year also formed a new wholly owned subsidiary, Hunter Water Australia, taking some 80 former employees across. The Association negotiated the transfer, and, in the new year, will develop a new Enterprise Agreement for those members. Other ResponsibilitiesErnie is also providing assistance to the Musician's Union which is rebuilding itself into a viable representative for musicians in the region. Additionally, responsibility for Macquarie Generation has been handed to Ernie with the reorganisation of responsibilities within the Labor Council.
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