Labor Council of NSW Annual Report 2002 | |
The Secretary, John Robertson’s
report
| John Robertson |
|  |
| Secretary |
2002 was the second consecutive year that union membership increased in real
terms in New South Wales. The continued growth has been achieved through the
hard work and efforts of unions implementing strategies to empower and activate
new and existing members. Labor
Council’s focus throughout 2002 was on assisting unions with a series
of campaigns aimed at building the union movement in New South
Wales.
This was achieved through the various activities undertaken by the
Officers of the Council during 2002, all of which are detailed in the body of
this report.
Organising
In January 2002 Labor Council appointed Adam Kerslake as Director of
Organising. Adam had previously worked for the ACTU Organising Centre and the Electrical Trades Union. His skills have
ensured that Labor Council continues to drive the changes required to assist
unions organising for growth in membership and that our affiliates have access
to the most up to date techniques in organising.
Labor Council continued to underwrite
the operation of the Organising Centre in 2002 in various ways including the
provision of accommodation in the Labor Council Building.
Thursday night
meetings increasingly became a forum where affiliates provided reports to the
Council on organising and industrial campaigns they have undertaken. The
meetings were regularly addressed by rank and file activists and delegates from
a broad range of industries on the issues they were confronting in their
workplace. The meetings provided an opportunity for rank and file members to
seek the support of other unions in their campaigns and further develop their
skills as rank and file leaders.
Labor Council worked in conjunction with
the Rail Tram & Bus Union, Association of Professional Engineers &
Managers Association, Australian Workers
Union, Electrical Trades Union
and Australian Services Union
– Services Division to run the “Keep
Our Railway Together” campaign in opposition to a Federal Government
proposal to take control of track maintenance from the New South Wales
Government. The campaign focused on the involvement of rank and file members
employed by the Rail Infrastructure
Corporation in rural New South Wales through a series of events held during
the last quarter of 2002. The campaign is intended to be continued throughout
2003 as a key component of a broader organising campaign in the Rail Infrastructure
Corporation.
Towards the end of 2002 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 other
such projects in 2003 with other affiliates.
Labor Council held a delegates seminar
at Penrith in November. The seminar was focused on training delegates on the
new occupational health and safety regime introduced in New South Wales and how
delegates could organise new members. The majority of affiliates had delegates
attend with over 550 delegates in attendance. Based on the success of this first
seminar it is intended to have an annual seminar targeting delegates and
providing them with the opportunity to exchange ideas on how to organise and
activate their work colleagues.
Labor Council also launched its UnionSafe campaign aimed at providing
up to date information on occupational health and safety to organisers and
delegates.
Industrial Relations Commission of NSW
Centenary
The Industrial
Relations Commission of New South Wales celebrated its centenary in 2002
with a special sitting of the Commission that was addressed by the Labor Council, Employers First and other
representative organisations. In addressing the special sitting of the
Commission Labor Council’s submission highlighted the many decisions of
the Commission that have had a lasting impact on working conditions in New South
Wales including:
- The introduction of universal holiday pay
- Provision of long service leave
- Redundancy rights
- The recent pay equity case.
Labor Council also participated in other
activities that celebrated the role the Commission has played in its 100 years
maintaining the living standards of working people in New South
Wales.
Labor Media
In 2002 the Labor Council sold
Labor Media for $2.1 million to World Media. The sale occurred after Labor Media
incurred losses over the two years it operated AM 1620 2KM in excess of $1.1
million. The decision to sell was carried unanimously by a meeting of the
Council and ensured the losses were recovered.
Labor Council’s
internet broadcaster Wobbly Radio
continued through 2002. In the last quarter of 2002 community broadcaster Free Broadcast incorporated (FBi) agreed
to takeover the site and maintain the content and its quality as part of a
sponsorship arrangement that will recognise the Labor Council and provide an
ability to participate in the activities of FBi.
Trades Hall
In December 2002 the Trades Hall Association, a committee of the Labor Council, appointed a project
manager to oversee the refurbishment of the Trades Hall. The project manager
will liaise with the builder and ensure that the Trades Hall Association’s
interests are best served during the planning and refurbishment of the building.
As part of the refurbishment of Trades Hall it is intended to maintain the
significant heritage items in the building and to have a photo essay carried out
from the commencement of the work to ensure a record of all the work is
maintained for the future.
Rallies
In 2002 the Labor Council assisted
and supported numerous rallies organised by affiliates including:
• TCFUA - Fair Wear Rally
outside the Gucci store as part of a campaign against the exploitation of
workers
- Building & Construction Unions rally against the Cole Royal
Commission
- Ribs and Rump Restaurant in support of exploited workers on visas from South
Africa
• Labor 4
Refugees rallies seeking to change the Federal Government and the Australian
Labor Party policy on the treatment and detention of asylum seekers
May Day Song Competition
As part of the activities undertaken by the Labor Council throughout 2002, a song
competition was launched through Wobbly
Radio to find a new union song. The objective behind this competition was to
use current music styles to get the message of trade unionism to a younger
audience.
Over 100 entries were received for the competition and the
finalists were invited to play at the May Day Dinner held at South Sydney
Leagues Club.
The winner was a performer called SwarmyG and the lyrics to
the song titled “May Day May Day” contained a very powerful message
of modern society and how unions were part of the solution to many of these
problems.
Subsequently the Labor
Council produced a CD with 15 of the best entries received in the contest.
Labor Council intends to make this an annual event.
Executive Planning Day
Labor Council held a planning day
for the Executive of Labor Council in August 2002 to continue the development
and implementation of strategies that were consistent with the expectations and
needs of affiliated unions. One of the main focuses of the day was to highlight
new and innovative methods of organising being applied in Australia and the
United States of America. As part of the planning day presentations were made by
ACCIRT, the SDA, the ACTU along with a number of Labor Council
Officers.
A number of proposal were developed for implementation in 2003
including:
- Establishment of an internal research capacity at Labor Council
- Closer relationships and better resourced regional labour councils
- Increased union representation on the Labor Council
Executive
Regional Councils
In October 2002 Labor Council
commenced discussions with the South Coast Labour Council on how the two
organisations could work more closely together and the possibility of some form
of integration. These discussions are anticipated to continue in
2003.
The approach adopted in the discussions with the South Coast Labour
Council has been consistent with the philosophy of the proposal from the
Executive Planning day held in August 2002.
In addition Labor Council
worked with a number of the regional trades and labour council’s during
the “Keep
Our Railway Together” campaign throughout New South Wales. The
assistance provided by the regional trades and labour councils was invaluable
and added to the success of the rallies held in the many townships in New South
Wales.
Community Activities
The Labor Council increased its
community activities in 2002.
Labor Council was involved in the
promotion of the “Kids At Risk” programme run by TAFE at Chullora and was present when a
presentation was made by the teachers to the Minister for Education, the
Honourable John Watkins MLA.
In addition Labor Council and a number of
affiliated unions participated in the Palm Sunday march and rally. The march was
held in silence to support changes to Australia’s refugee policy and then
a rally was held at Prince Alfred Park and was addressed by numerous speakers
including the Secretary.
Labor Council also established a dialogue with
the Lebanese Muslim Association as part of its work in building a broad network
of links with the community. It is hoped to build on this relationship during
2003.
International Solidarity
Labor Council continued its
support for human rights and the re-establishment of democracy in Burma. As part
of this continued support the Council maintained the provision of office
accommodation to the Burma Office.
Labor Council also continued in 2002
to assist Polisario, the group leading the struggle for self-determination in
Western Sahara against the Moroccan Government. Polisario is represented in
Australia.
In November 2002 a delegation from the Labor Council led by
Vice President Barry Johnson attended the Annual General Meeting of Rengo Tokyo.
Also attending were Maurie O’Sullivan from the Public Service Association, Bob Hayden
from the Rail, Tram and Bus Union and
Mary Yaager from the Labor Council.
In December 2002 Labor Council met
with the Secretary of the New Zealand Council
of Trade Unions. As part of the discussion it was agreed to develop a closer
relationship with regular exchanges of dialogue and information.
Finances
| Jeff Priestly |
|  |
| Financial Controller |
The results for the year to 30th June 2002 reflect the impact of a
full year of operations of Labor Media Pty Limited. As reported earlier, the
company was sold for $2.1 million and this amount recouped all costs sustained
and produced a sizable surplus.
The Management Account continues to
subsidize the Property Account. It should be noted that income received on
property assets owned by the Labor Council are also reflected in the Wireless
Committee. In the Management Account sustentation fees increased by $75,331.00
due to CPI increases. Total income was $36,557.00 lower than the previous year,
reflecting reductions in internal interest and management fee
receipts.
Expenditure has increased by $461,412.00 due mainly to payments
to the Organising Centre $123,900.00, the Sky Channel broadcast $57,476.00
contract services of $83,379.00 and rent and electricity paid to the Property
Account $51,554.00.
In the Property Account income increased by
$134,686.00 and expenditure increased by $155,595.00. Expenditure increase was
partly due to refurbishment of all foyers at the Labor Council Building. This
building continues to be fully tenanted. Total surplus for the year was
$813,685.00.
Wireless Committee income was $114,644.00 less than the
previous year of $1,952.113.00. This reflects rent of offices and transmitter
previously charged to 2KY. Expenditure is $186,567.00 over previous year due to
legal fees of $96,753.00 and depreciation of $44,313.00. Surplus for the year
was $1,205,523.00.
The Currawong Account recorded a deficit of $12,091.00
compared to a deficit for the previous year of $59,645.00.
Affiliations
At the end of 2002 Labor Council
received correspondence from the Australian
Manufacturing Workers Union, General Division and TSA Division advising that
they were seeking to re-affiliate in 2003.
Research
In 2002 the Labor Council continued its joint funding, with the ACTU, of research conducted by the Australian Centre for Industrial Relations,
Research and Training into industries for potential membership growth. The
research provides the foundations 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 continued with the survey through the Australian Centre for Industrial Relations,
Research and Training on the Quality of Working Life Index. The index sets a
benchmark to assess workers views on work related matters and its impact on
family life.
Boards
The Secretary sat on the following Boards and Committees:
• Energy Australia
• WorkCover
Authority
• Infrastructure
Council
- Combined Union Housing Co-operative
• Parramatta Stadium Trust
- Building & Construction Industry Long Service Payments
Corporation
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