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 About Us  About Unions NSWAbout UnionsWho's WhoInformation Centre What's Going On? Annual Reports   
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Michael Costa – Secretary
OrganisingIn 2000 the Labor Council and its affiliates lead the nation in the shift towards an organising culture. As part of this transition the Labor Council’s rules were amended at the Annual General Meeting in February 2000, to establish the Organising Committee as the key committee in the development of organising strategies for the Council. Labor Council’s regular Thursday meetings are now being utilised as an opportunity for rank and file activists to report on their campaigns or disputes. This approach has reactivated the meetings and made them a forum that is effective in highlighting the many issues that are confronting workers on a daily basis, including unfair treatment and pressure to trade off wages and conditions. Labor Council has assisted affiliate unions with organising campaigns in a range of areas such as Star City Casino and the Email Plant at Orange in rural NSW. Labor Council will continue to assist affiliate unions to organise and is looking to assist the South Coast Labor Council and the Newcastle Trades Hall Council with organising campaigns in 2001. In addition, affiliates have continued to require Labor Council’s support and assistance in wage campaigns and traditional industrial advocacy. Olympics2000 saw Sydney deliver “the best Olympic Games ever”. This was achieved, in part, through the active management of industrial issues by the Labor Council from the commencement of the construction of Olympic facilities through to the operations of venues and transport. Labor Council achieved the first unionised Olympic Games through the establishment and operation of Unions 2000. Unions 2000 organised 12,000 workers in the lead up to and during the Games period. The strategy underpinning Unions 2000 was to provide workers involved in the Games, who may not have previously been union members, with a positive union experience and allow those unions with coverage of these sectors to follow these members back to their traditional workplaces. Labor Council successfully negotiated with the State Government an Olympic Allowance of $1.50 per hour worked for all public sector employees who had their terms and conditions of employment altered. This ensured the efficient and effective delivery of government services during the Olympic Games. Labor Council also worked with the Sydney Organising Committee for the Olympic Games (S.O.C.O.G.) to establish a high level disputes committee, to resolve the disputes that arose during the Games period. Following the success of the Olympic Games the Premier Bob Carr addressed Labor Council to thank affiliated unions and the workers for their efforts and support. PresidentDuring 2000 Sandra Moait, Secretary of the New South Wales Nurses’ Association, was elected unopposed as Labor Council’s first female President. Sandra took over from John Whelan who retired as President in March 2000. John brought a unique personal touch to the role of President of Labor Council and has left a lasting legacy due to his capacity to deal with all issues on their merits without fear or favour. New Deputy Assistant SecretaryNaomi Steer resigned from the Labor Council in 2000 to take up a position with the United Nations High Commission for Refugees. One of Naomi’s major achievements at the Labor Council was the establishment an alliance of peak community organisations, the NSW Alliance. She also established a network of community links, essential for the Labor Council, that continues to be of value to the Council in its campaigns and activities. Naomi has been replaced by Alison Peters who was elected unopposed as the Deputy Assistant Secretary – Community Affairs. Alison was previously the Secretary of the Australian Services Union, Services Branch and a Vice President of Labor Council. Alison brings a wealth of experience to the Labor Council, which will build upon the achievements of Naomi. Alison’s election to the position continues the Labor Council’s policy of inclusiveness. The Labor Council is committed to ensuring that its Officers reflect the diverse affiliation base of the Council. Public Sector Wages Negotiations2000 saw public sector employees offered a wage increase of 16% over a four year period. The offer negotiated by the Labor Council and public sector unions with the State Government was overwhelmingly accepted by members in the public sector. The increases provided under the arrangement ensure the real value of the wages for all workers in the public sector. The arrangement provides for any efficiencies to be negotiated at an agency level. Labor Council, on behalf of Public Sector unions, has indicated that it reserves its rights to seek increases in relation to potential GST impacts. It is pleasing that in 2000 the Teachers’ pay dispute was also resolved satisfactorily with the Government. While the negotiations and tactics of the Department were at times hostile, an agreement was reached on a package that included a salary increase of 16% over four years, ensuring New South Wales teachers remain well paid for their professional skills. Industrial Relations Act AmendmentsThe Carr Labor Government amended the Industrial Relations Act 1996 after a period of consultation with interested parties. The amendments were largely those raised by the Labor Council with the Government prior to the 1999 election. The amendments have maintained the integrity of New South Wales Industrial Relations System and ensure its continued viability, which stands in stark contrast to the Federal system which is driven by the ideology of the Howard Government. It was disappointing however, that the State Government did not amend the Act to allow for introduction of agency fees in enterprise agreements where there is majority support. Labor Council will continue to press for the introduction of the proposal. Labor Council had also sought, as part of the package of amendments, to regulate the activity of unscrupulous labour hire firms. While the Act was not amended to address this matter the State Government established a Labour Hire Taskforce chaired by former ACTU President Jennie George with representatives including the Labor Council. The Taskforce is due to deliver its report to the Minister for Industrial Relations early in 2001. Following on from the report it is hoped that the Government will make legislative changes in line with the recommendations made by the taskforce to reflect the changing structure of the labour market. RalliesLabor Council in 2000 was approached by the Secretary of the Orange Trades and Labor Council, Mick Madden and the Australian Workers’ Union with a request to support and assist in the staging of a rally in Orange against the possible closure of Email’s manufacturing operations. The plant located in Orange employs over 1500 workers and accounts for 35% of the Orange economy. Labor Council assisted, offering advice to the delegates and activists at Email on the development of leaflets and community networks to support the rally. The rally was a huge success with over 4000 workers from the finance sector, hospitality, clerical workers, teachers and nurses converging on Orange from as far as Wollongong and Sydney. The rally was addressed by a series of speakers including the Email rank and file delegates. They outlined the workers’ concerns for ongoing employment and the security of their accrued entitlements. Following on from the rally Email met with the unions and delegates and subsequently guaranteed the security of employee entitlements. Labor Council also coordinated and organised a rally against the third wave of amendments to the Workplace Relations Act 1996. The Federal Government was attempting to further undermine the rights of workers covered by federal awards. The rally was held outside the Sydney offices of the Democrats with speakers calling on the Democrats to totally reject the proposed Reith amendments. When the amendments went before the Senate they were rejected in their entirety by the ALP with the support of the Democrats. International SolidarityFollowing the coup in Fiji and requests for support from the Fiji Trade Union Congress, Labor Council organised rallies and events in support of the calls for a return of the democratically elected government and the maintenance of the Fiji Constitution. Labor Council, through its affiliate unions participated in the global blockade of Fiji and was privileged to be addressed by Diwarn Shankar, Assistant National Secretary of the Fijian Trade Union Congress during the period of the coup. Diwarn Shankar informed affiliates of the terror campaign being waged by supporters of the coup against the trade union movement leadership for advocating a return of the democratically elected government and the maintenance of the Fiji Constitution. Labor Council continued its ongoing support for East Timor through the staging of fundraising events and successfully lobbying the State Government for the provision of five State Transit Authority buses, that will be utilised by the East Timorese to transport students to schools and university. ReconciliationThe Labor Council coordinated the union movement’s participation in “The People’s Walk for Reconciliation” which saw over 1500 trade unionists join the march across the Sydney Harbour Bridge for reconciliation between black and white Australians. A disappointing but not surprising aspect of the event was the noticeable absence of the Prime Minister who refused to attend the march and still refuses to apologise to the Aboriginal people for over 200 years of oppression.
Finances
Affiliations to the Council have declined during 2000, which has a direct impact on the income of the Council from sustentation fees. Labor Council is taking steps to deal with this by looking at alternative strategies for investment that will provide greater returns to the Council. The financial accounts of the Labor Council for the twelve months to 30th June 2000 reveal that the Council has had a satisfactory year. In the Management Account sustentation fees have continued to decline and are $82,626 below the previous year. This drop in income has been offset by a one off increase in interest received of $112,730 resulting from investment of the Council’s share of proceeds from the sale of 2HD. These proceeds have now been invested in a special purpose trust. Expenditure has increased by $117,349, which mainly comprised of an increase of $85,571 in rent and electricity, due to rent for the trade union shop of $50,000 which is recorded as income in the property account. An amount of $30,000 was granted to the South Coast Labor Council to help overcome financial difficulties. Ongoing assistance to the South Coast Labor Council will be considered as requested. In the Property Account rents received increased by $190,412 after taking account of the $50,000 received from the Management Account. Expenditure increased by $50,389 with small increases in building alterations and rates. Total surplus for the year was $771,804. The Currawong Account showed a reduced deficit for the year of $37,755. As noted in the previous year’s report, our aim is to ensure that the net surplus of the Property Account and Currawong Account exceeds the deficit on the Management Account. We are on target to achieve this balance. During the year the Currawong Management Agreement was finalised. Discussions are now being held with Pittwater Council to ensure their concerns are addressed prior to any development application. Labor Council/ALP TrustDuring the year Labor Campaign Pty Ltd was incorporated. The Labor Council contributed $2,890,000 in August which was its shared proceeds from the sale of 2HD. The aim of the company is to protect capital investment, apply income generated towards campaign costs and to support students in the Hunter Valley. The company is currently Chaired by The Hon. Neville Wran and Labor Council Directors are: the President Sandra Moait, Assistant Secretary, John Robertson, and myself. The company’s assets as at 30th September 2000 stood at $4,591,557.00 GetOnBoard2000 saw the Labor Council establish, in conjunction with the Australian Labor Party (NSW Branch) and Kingsway Capital, an exciting new venture, GetOnBoard. GetOnBoard provides Labor Council with an initial one-third stake in an asset that has the potential to be of major value in the future. The venture allows for individual affiliate unions that promote GetOnBoard to receive equity in the Company in return for their participation. The computer and internet package will commence at $9.95 per week and all profits received by the Labor Council will be invested into the Council’s information technology development. The arrangement provides Labor Council with significant equity in the venture in recognition of the value attached to the union movement’s affinity base. 2KYTowards the end of 2000 Labor Council was involved in discussions with TAB NSW for the sale of 2KY. The proposed sale, which follows on from the 75th birthday celebrations of the station, provides an opportunity to refocus the Labor Council’s investments in such a way that ensures its financial security well into the future. It is proposed, if the sale proceeds, to maintain the broadcast license 1620 and utilise this license as the voice of the trade union movement, the original intention of Emil Voigt at the time Labor Council first purchased the 2KY license. The proceeds from the sale of 2KY will be utilised by the Labor Council to carry out the renovation of the Trades Hall without the need for investment by a third party as has been the case with previous proposals. If the renovations are to proceed they will be project managed by Assistant Secretary John Robertson who was closely involved with the Olympic construction programme. The remainder of the proceeds will be invested by the Trustees under the direction of the Labor Council’s Finance Committee. During the year, I represented the Labor Council as a delegate to:
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