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 About Us  About Unions NSWAbout UnionsWho's WhoInformation Centre What's Going On? Annual Reports   
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John Robertson, Secretary
John Robertson,
Secretary
New SecretaryIn August 2001, Michael Costa resigned as Secretary of the Labor Council to take up a seat in the Legislative Council of the New South Wales Parliament. Michael had been with the Labor Council since 1989 and served as Secretary for a period of three years. Michael has left the Council following his period as Secretary in a strong position both financially and politically. Following Michael's departure John Robertson was elected unopposed as Secretary of the Council and Mark Lennon as Assistant Secretary and both commenced in their respective positions in July 2001. New Deputy Assistant SecretaryMichael Gadiel was elected unopposed to the position of Deputy Assistant Secretary - Industrial in October 2001. Prior to his election, Michael had been employed by the Council as an Industrial Officer since May 1996. New Industrial OfficerNancy Carl commenced at the Labor Council in September 2001 as an Industrial Officer. Prior to commencing work with the Council, Nancy worked for seven years at the Police Association of New South Wales and brings an understanding of the role played by an Industrial Officer in an organsing context. She brings a wealth of experience to the position she holds at the Council having worked as a para-legal prior to her employment at the Police Association. OrganisingThe Organising Committee continued to meet during 2001 developing a number of organising strategies for the Council. The Organising Committee also provided an opportunity for affiliates to briefed on the latest campaign techniques being utilised by unions both here in Australia and internationally. The briefings were conducted with the assistance of the ACTU Organising Centre. Labor Council continued to work closely with the ACTU Organising Centre in a range of organising activities undertaken throughout 2001 and by assisting with the accommodation costs of the Organising Centre in Sydney. Thursday night meetings continued to be a forum that allowed affiliates to report to the Council on organising and industrial campaigns they were pursuing. The meetings were addressed by rank and file activists from a range of industries on the issues they were confronting in their workplace. Labor Council worked in conjunction with the ACTU in the development and launch of an organising campaign in call centres. The campaign was launched in Wollongong with the assistance of the South Coast Labour Council outside the premises occupied by Stellar, a call centre operator in which unions were attempting to organise the workers. Stellar has contracts with numerous businesses including Telstra and the Department of Transport. As part of the campaign Labor Council also facilitated a two day workshop with organisers and rank and file activists working in call centres. The workshop was aimed at providing training and information to the activists to improve their skills in organising their fellow workers. Towards the end of 2001 Labor Council embarked on the development of an ambitious industry organising project for the building and construction industry involving the Australian Workers' Union, the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union, the Electrical Trades Union, the Plumbers Union and the Transport Workers' Union. If this pilot proves to be a success, Labor Council will look to develop similar organising projects in 2002 with other affiliates. Labor Council has for sometime now been utilising the internet as means of both communication and organising. As part of that strategy the Council launched the Bosswatch which provides information on executive salaries, the major shareholders in particular companies, the board of directors, profits declared, taxes paid and other relevant information. The information is collected from the annual reports of companies and formatted in an easy to read form. Bosswatch is intended to be a tool that unions can utilise as part of their organising campaigns. Labor Council also launched the I.T. Workers' Alliance which is targeted at organising workers in the information technology industry. The unions supporting the I.T. Workers' Alliance are the Association of Professional Engineers, Scientists and Managers, Australia, the Australian Services Union - Services Branch, the Communication, Electrical, Plumbing Union - Technical & Services Branch, the Electrical Trades Union, the Finance Sector Union and the Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance. In the three months since the launch of the site over 80 applications to join a union have been received via the website. Workers' CompensationThe most significant campaign of 2001 for the trade union movement in New South Wales was against the package of workers' compensation reforms proposed by the Minister for Industrial Relations, John Della Bosca. The package of reforms introduced without consultation were draconian and would have seen all workers in New South Wales severely disadvantaged had the package proceeded as proposed in March 2001. The Labor Council initiated a campaign involving affiliates in industrial action across a range of industries and the public sector, all targeted at the Government with minimal inconvenience to the general public. Council also developed a campaign of advertisements and literature highlighting the effects of the reform package and encouraging rank and file activists to visit their local member of Parliament in opposition to the package of reforms. The Government subsequently disaggregated the package and only proceeded with some aspects of the package in the middle of the year. Changes to common law were referred to an inquiry chaired by Justice Terry Sheahan who was then of the Land and Environment Court. The introduction of medical assessment guidelines were referred to a committee of medical specialists nominated by WorkCover and the Labor Council. As part of the campaign, which had been aimed at engaging and involving rank and file activists, the Labor Council organised the largest ever stop work meeting utilising the SKY Channel network to brief members across the state on the campaign. The broadcast was well received and ensured that this campaign involved all members in New South Wales. Labor Council participated in the Sheahan Inquiry as a member of the expert committee, established to assist Justice Sheahan, and also by making a written and oral submission to the Inquiry. The outcome of the Inquiry was considered by most affiliates as less than satisfactory, however, there were some improvements to the reform package achieved as a result of the recommendations of Justice Sheahan. Labor Council was represented in the development of the medical guidelines by a number of eminent medical specialists in their fields of expertise and as a result was able to ensure that the guidelines to be used to assess injured workers are far more fair and balanced than those that were a part of the original package of reforms proposed in March 2001. The Government introduced its final package of workers' compensation reforms in December 2001 none of which was supported by the Labor Council and its affiliates. To ensure that all workers in New South Wales were aware of the stance taken by the Council and affiliates, full-page advertisements were taken out in the metropolitan, rural and ethnic press. Labor Council intends to continue to monitor the effects of the Government's reforms to workers' compensation by encouraging rank and file activists and the medical and legal professions to contact the Council through a special website established at compomonitor@labor.org.au. All the information received will be used to highlight to the Government how workers have been disadvantaged through the introduction of the reform package. In addition the Council will be seeking legal advice on its ability to run a test case before the Industrial Relations Commission of New South Wales for improved workers' compensation benefits using an award provision to increase benefits to injured workers. Radio 2KY - Labor MediaIn 2001 the Labor Council sold Radio2KY, after having owned the station for 75 years, to the New South Wales TAB. The sale of 2KY has ensured the Council is in a strong financial position to deal with the numerous challenges that confront the trade union movement in New South Wales. The sale was part of the Council reassessing its investments to ensure the returns received and the original intentions of these investments continued to be appropriate. This was no longer the case with Radio 2KY. The Council has however maintained a presence in radio and continues to broadcast on 2KM 1620AM. The format of all time favourites continues to prove popular and the station is being used extensively to broadcast the labor message. In addition Labor Council has established an internet broadcaster, Wobbly Radio which has its website at http://www.wobblyradio.com. Wobbly plays unsigned Australian bands and is also used to broadcast the labor message to a younger audience. 2KM, Wobbly Radio and Workers Online are all now operated under the Labor Media banner, which is over seen by the Labor Council's Wireless Committee. Trades HallIn June 2001 the Labor Council exercised its option under the rules of the Trades Hall Association to purchase 800,000 shares in the Association. This effectively gave control of the Association to the Council. The Council's objective is to refurbish the Trades Hall to its former glory, enhancing its heritage value and have it once again the centre of trade union activity. While there are still issues to be resolved, this refurbishment proposal is more likely to proceed than other previous proposals because the Council has sufficient funds available to it, after the sale of Radio 2KY, unlike other proposals that have relied on financial backing from external partners. RalliesIn 2001 the Labor Council assisted and supported numerous rallies organised by affiliates including:
Federal ElectionLabor Council officers were again placed in key marginal seats during the federal election campaign. In addition the Council co-ordinated, in consultation with the ALP, the placement of union resources in all the key marginal seats in New South Wales throughout the campaign. The election result was disappointing as was the stance taken by the Labor Party on some of the key issues during the election. Union ConferencesThroughout 2001 the Secretary addressed the following union conferences:
Regional CouncilsIn August 2001 an agreement was signed off between the Labor Council and the Newcastle Trades Hall Council establishing a set of arrangements to ensure resources were better utilised by both Councils in the Hunter. The agreement also established that Labor Council Industrial Officer, Ernie Razborsek, would commence as Assistant Secretary of the Newcastle Trades Hall Council. The agreement sets the foundations for a far more close and co-operative relationship between the two Councils. Throughout 2001 the Labor Council has continued to work co-operatively and build closer links with the South Coast Labour Council, particularly during the Workers' Compensation campaign. In December 2001 the Labor Council met with representatives of the Barrier Industrial Council. The discussions covered a broad range of topics including how the Labor Council could assist the Barrier Industrial Council with future organising and industrial campaigns. Community ActivitiesThe Labor Council has always participated in community activities, and in 2001 was part of a rally for the better treatment of refugees, which was held outside the Villawood Detention Centre. At the end of 2001 the Council was in the early stages of developing the Workplace Harmony Campaign, which will seek to highlight the positive effects of Australia's former approach to refugees and immigration. The campaign will be conducted using media, literature and workplace visits. The Labor Council in December 2001 was a key driver in the establishment of Labor for Refugees in New South Wales. Labor for Refugees is seeking to alter the policy of the Labor Party on refugees by engaging all MP's, ALP Branch Secretaries and rank and file members in the debate on this issue. International SolidarityLabor Council continued its support for human rights and the re-establishment of democracy in Burma. As part of this support the Council continued to provide office accommodation to the Burmese. In November 2001 discussions were held with a delegation of Burmese Ministers in exile on the current situation facing Burma and its democratically elected leader Aun San Suu Kyi. Throughout 2001 Labor Council also assisted Polisario, the group leading the struggle for self-determination in Western Sahara against the Moroccon Government. Polisario is represented in Australia and the Council assisted with and addressed a rally outside the Moroccon Consulate, raised the issue with affiliates and arranged a meeting with the Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Honourable Laurie Brereton. Labor Council has been a long time supporter of East Timor. In 2001 Labor Council took the decision to establish fraternal relations with the newly formed Council of Unions and has offered to assist and support the new Council as it establishes itself. The Annual General Meeting in February 2001 was attended by representatives
of Rengo Tokyo and the
Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions.
FinancesThe Labor Council's financial position as reported in the end of June 2001 accounts continues to remain sound. The Council continued the practice of subsidising affiliation by drawing on funds generated by Council assets to fund its operations. To this end, the Council continues to run a deficit in its Management Account, which has been offset by surpluses in its Property Account. The Labor Council late in 2001 sought expert advice regarding its investments to ensure that it is maximising its returns on its assets, whilst at the same time minimising the risk. As a result of the advice some alternative investments strategies will be implemented through the Council's Finance Committee in 2002. In the Management Account sustentation fees have increased by $13,492.00 reflecting an increase less than the CPI increase of 6%. Interest has decreased by $111,933.00 as a result of the Council's portion of the sale of 2HD being deposited in the Labor Council ALP Trust. Expenditure has increased by $319,269.00 due mainly to legal costs incurred in the sale of the 2KY license of $ 162,979.00 and an increase in general expenses. In the Property Account rents increased by $ 92,693.00. Expenditure increased
by The Currawong Account recorded a deficit of $ 59,645.00. As previously stated, in April 2001 negotiations for the sale of the 2KY license to TAB Limited were concluded. As a result of the sale several property assets were transferred to the Council. The property portfolio now consists of over half of the strata units at 2KY house, 20-22 Wentworth Street Parramatta, land at the transmitter site at Homebush Bay, the top two floors plus one level of carpark at 364 Sussex Street Sydney, and the Currawong Resort. AffiliationsAt the end of 2001 the Australian Writers Guild was accepted as an affiliate of the Labor Council. The Guild represents script-writers for movies, T.V. dramas and theatre productions. ResearchIn 2001 the Labor Council jointly funded, with the ACTU, research conducted by the Australian Centre for Industrial Relations, Research and Training into industries for potential membership growth. The research provides the foundation for a more strategic approach to organising in the future and debunks many of the myths associated with the decline in union densities. Labor Council also commissioned a survey through the Australian Centre for Industrial Relations, Research and Training, which establishes a Quality of Working Life Index. The index will set a benchmark to assess workers views on work related matters and its impact on family life. The survey will be conducted annually and the results released once they are available. GetonBoardIn November 2001 GetonBoard ceased operating as a result of its computer supplier, Gateway, withdrawing its operations in Australia. GetonBoard was unable to find a suitable alternate supplier and ceased operations on 20th November. All customers were advised and steps taken to ensure that all warranties were honoured. I was a Director of the following Boards: -
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