Meeting held : 01 June 2006
Chair of Meeting: The Acting President, Comrade Barry Johnson
Location of the meeting : Trades Hall Auditorium, 4 Goulburn St Sydney
UNIONS NSW MEETING MINUTES
MEETING HELD THURSDAY 1ST JUNE 2006
IN THE TRADES HALL AUDITORIUM
AT 4 GOULBURN STREET, SYDNEY, AT 6:02 PM
The Vice President Com. B. Johnson occupied the Chair.
PRESENT: - M. Lennon (Assistant Secretary), A. Peters, (Deputy Assistant Secretary).
MINUTES: -
The Acting Secretary, Com. M. Lennon, moved: -
"That the minutes as circulated be received".
Com. F. Barnes seconded.
CARRIED
The Acting Secretary, Com. M. Lennon, moved: -
"That the minutes as circulated be adopted".
Com. B. Tubner seconded.
CARRIED
CREDENTIALS
From The Textile Clothing and Footwear Union of Australia appointing: - D. Karlsson in place of J. Owen and H. Nguyen in place of S. Davies.
From The Australian Workers' Union appointing: - P. Farrow in place of R. Collison.
The Acting Secretary, Com. M. Lennon, moved: -
"That the credentials be received and the delegates welcomed".
Com. M. Stuart seconded.
CARRIED
APOLOGIES
Apologies were received and accepted for: - S. Moait, J. Robertson, C. Christodoulou, M. Thistlethwaite, M. Want, J. Diamond, R. Collison, V. Higgins, J. Keijda, N. Lewocki.
The Acting Secretary, Com. M.Lennon, moved: -
"That the apologies be received and accepted".
Com. P. Bastian seconded.
CARRIED
GUEST SPEAKER
The Acting President Com. B. Johnson introduced Naomi Steer, National Director, Australia for UNHCR.
Com. Steer said that East Timor was close to many in the union movement and that in 1999 unions and refugee advocates were instrumental in seeking Australian Government intervention following their referendum. Com. Steer said that she had been to East Timor twice, initially just after she started with Australia UNHCR which she said was fairly traumatic as it was only months after the murder of 3 UNHCR staff.
Com. Steer said that UNHCR worked on developing projects for young people based around sports which were designed to overcome boredom and that in 12 months the community had changed dramatically. One example was of the Sports Minister returning to East Timor after being a TAFE teacher at Meadowbank which showed the spirit of the Timorese and that the current situation was disappointing given the progress made since 1999.
Com. Steer advised that UNHCR had sent in emergency teams this week and have launched an Appeal. It is estimated that over 100,000 people are in need and Com. Steer appealed to delegates to support their friends once again as basic needs of the Timorese people were shelter, plastic sheeting, cooking facilities, food and medicines.
The Acting Secretary, Com. M. Lennon moved a vote of thanks and welcomed Naomi back to Unions NSW. Mark said that he had visited East Timor in 2002 and that he was impressed with the resilience and resourcefulness of the people. He said he believed that the current situation was temporary, but showed the need to provide longer term support for what is still a fledging nation and that Unions NSW are happy to support the appeal and would circulate details to affiliates.
EXECUTIVE BUSINESS
CORRESPONDENCE
1. From the National Tertiary Education Union, NSW Branch:- requesting Unions NSW approach the NSW Government seeking a "fare free" day to enable maximum attendance by unionists at the Blacktown Rally. The Union said that such an approach would enable the NSW Government to demonstrate their support for the fight against WorkChoices by encouraging citizens to attend the rally at Blacktown. The Union said that if a fare free "day" on all trains or buses on the Blacktown routes was too much of an ask, then the Union believed that Unions NSW should seek at least a return fare free to and from Blacktown on the day.
Com. M. Lennon moved the Executive Recommendation
"That the correspondence be received and Unions NSW approach the State Government seeking assistance to maximise attendance at the June 28 rally through the provision of free travel".
Com. C. Game seconded the resolution.
CARRIED
2. From the NSW Teachers Federation: - advising of the attendance of three of their Organisers at a meeting of cross-union Organisers in Western Sydney. The Union said that reports from the meeting had been very positive and they believed that the following things need to occur.
• Unions NSW needs to give official sanction to a co-ordinated effort by Unions in Western Sydney as a build-up to the rally at Blacktown on June 28.
• There needs to be access to the CAN Network to email all people in Western Sydney who have given their names for the Your Rights At Work Campaign.
• The email not only needs to inform people about the rally but also to ask for volunteers to help with a blanket leafleting run.
• All affiliates should send at least one Western Sydney Organiser to the next meeting on June 5.
• Union Secretaries need to support a co-ordinated effort to build June 28 in workplaces and the community.
• Union Organisers need to be empowered by their Secretaries so that they can deliver on the outcomes decided by the June 5 meeting.
• Unions NSW needs to place a co-ordinating role in the organisation and targeting of action regarding leafleting of shopping centres, stations, houses, etc.
The Union advised that Western Sydney Organisers would like to become integrated into the targeted seats campaign and be able to develop their own network as a means of supporting each other and their own Union's actions.
Com. M. Lennon moved the Executive Recommendation
"That the correspondence be received and that proposals outlined in the correspondence regarding campaign activities in Western Sydney be referred to the meeting of organisers on June 5th.
Further, that all affiliates be encouraged to send a Western Sydney Organiser to Monday's meeting".
Com. F. Barnes seconded and spoke to the resolution.
CARRIED
3. From the Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union, NSW Branch: - regarding their concern about the increase in the use of guest workers by Australian employers in the manufacturing and other industries. The Union said that since the Federal Government's ideological position was to abandon workers to their fate - whether they were local or foreign, that it was absolutely essential that the State Government introduce legislation immediately in order to protect the industrial rights and safety of these workers. The Union said that the potential for exploitation of foreign workers in Australia was patently obvious by way of inferior occupational health and safety standards and sub-standard wages and working conditions. They said that the complex contractual arrangements that they had found in the manufacturing sector meant that it was almost impossible to pursue non-compliance with Australian licensing, registration, insurance, remuneration, safety standards, local planning and environmental standards, etcetera and that it was extremely difficult to perform adequately probity checks on overseas companies. They also said that only ad hoc checks, if any at all, were made by DIMEA once guest workers had arrived in Australia and commenced employment. The Union said that recent media reports were that Minister for Immigration, Amanda Vanstone was considering the establishment of a "mobile strike team' to target suspected abuses of migrant workers. The Union believed that it would be far better to prevent these abuses from taking place in the first instance by putting proper probity checks in place before visas are issued and then ensuring a systematic auditing process. Whilst the AMWU supports the recommendations of Opposition Leader, Kim Beazley and ACTU President, Sharan Burrow, who have both called for tighter controls to be imposed on the use of visas for overseas workers, the Union also calls for more effective co-ordination with State Government authorities who have jurisdiction on OH& S and Workers Compensation. The Union believes that it should be mandatory for any employer who is planning to utilise guest workers either directly or through a third party, to register with WorkCover and the State Department of Industrial Relations, as well as the Australian Taxation Office prior to the issue of any visa. Specifically, applicant employers should be required by DIMEA to demonstrate that they have provided safety induction training, compliant with local statutory and regulatory requirements; that the company has a 'safe system of work' for the local site and has otherwise complied with all relevant legislation and regulations before visas are issued.
The Union said that in view of the seriousness of the issues raised that Unions NSW as a matter Of urgency seek a meeting with the NSW Minister for Industrial Relations, John Della Bosca to discuss the introduction of legislation as outlined.
Com. M. Lennon moved the Executive Recommendation
"That the correspondence be received and Unions NSW seek a meeting with the Minister for Industrial Relations regarding the introduction of legislation that will protect the safety and rights of guest workers in NSW as requested."
Com. P. Bastian seconded and spoke to the resolution.
CARRIED
4. From the Independent Education Union, NSW/ACT Branch: - thanking Unions NSW for their support in relation to the recent dispute at Newington College. The Union advised that this dispute had been resolved as follows:
• That all senior positions would not be declared vacant at the end of this year. Most staff will remain in their current positions.
• Any changes to areas of responsibility and remuneration resulting from the restructure will be appropriately compensated with salaries maintained.
• The College will continue to negotiate collective agreements covering the salary and conditions of teaching staff at the expiry of the current state award. This is an essential feature of this agreement in the current climate.
• Teaching staff will remain on a 185 day school term.
• Those in senior promotions may be required to attend school for "up to five days" during non-term time for individual and collegiate planning and appropriate professional development, as has been the case, rather than up to four weeks compulsory attendance proposed initially by the school.
Com. M. Lennon moved the Executive Recommendation
"That the correspondence be received and IEU members at Newington College be congratulated for their success in resisting the attempts by Newington College to implement a WorkChoices agenda."
Com. V. Heron seconded.
CARRIED
5. From The Australian Workers' Union, Greater NSW Branch: - advising Unions NSW of a dispute between the AWU and Bluescope Lysaght's Chullora plant which has arisen as a result of the company's decision to force a number of its employees to transfer from Chullora to the Arndell Park site at Blacktown. The Union said that employees had been told that they must sign an individual contract which would effectively remove them from their current enterprise agreement and that any employee who refuses to sign a contract would not be entitled to any redundancy and that they would no longer have a job with Bluescope. The Union advised that the parties have had extensive discussions without resolution and that as a result the AWU had filed an application with the Australian Industrial Relations Commission. The matter was listed for Conference on Thursday 8th June 2006. The AWU condemns Blue scope for using the Howard Government's WorkChoices legislation to force its employees off their existing collective agreement onto individual contracts with lesser conditions and were seeking the support of Unions NSW and its affiliates to further draw attention to the impact of the Howard Government's WorkChoices legislation on Australian working families.
Com. M. Lennon moved the Executive Recommendation
"That the correspondence be received and Unions NSW support the AWU in their campaign to protect members conditions at Bluescope Lysaght by opposing the introduction of individual contracts."
Com. N. Allen seconded and spoke to the resolution.
CARRIED
6. From The Shop, Distributive & Allied Employees' Association, NSW Branch: - updating Unions NSW and affiliates on Spotlight AWA's, particularly the AWA which had been offered to their member Annette Harris. The Union said that it was pleasing to report that following negotiations by the local SDA organiser, Annette had returned to work secure on her award conditions. The Union said however, that Spotlight continues to offer these shabby AWA's to new and existing employees and that the SDA would continue to campaign for a just outcome for Spotlight employees. They also advised that to date thousands of emails had been sent to the Company, whilst SDA members have been activated to educate their workmates about what is at stake and organise them. The Union said that several questions on this matter had been asked of the Howard Government in Federal Parliament. The Howard Government has tried to justify Spotlight's 2 cents for everything AWA because it creates jobs in Western Sydney. The Union said that the Prime Minister and the Minister for Workplace Relations were both wrong and that no new jobs had been created. The store in Mt Druitt which the Government points to as creating new jobs was planned and that applications made for its approval before the announcement of WorkChoices legislation last year. The Union said that in documents obtained under freedom of information it was clear that the application for the new Spotlight Mt. Druitt store was made on 27 September 2005 by Progetto Design Pty Ltd and was lodged with Bankstown City Council on 6th October 2005 and that the Prime Minister had announced the WorkChoices package on 9th October 2005, 3 days after the application for the Spotlight Mt. Druitt store was lodged. The actual WorkChoices legislation was not introduced into Parliament until 2nd November 2005, a further 27 days after the application for the Spotlight Mt Druitt Store was lodged. The Government's claim that new jobs were created at Spotlight Mt Druitt because of WorkChoices is false and that being able to reduce employees take home pay under WorkChoices was simply a windfall which allows the Company to increase its profits. The Union said employees had lost entitlements on these AWA's and that the Federal Government had lost credibility trying to justify these AWA's as creating new jobs. The Federal Government had tried to point to 40 jobs in one shop in Mt Druitt on sub-standard wages and conditions as a justification for WorkChoices, however the Union said they could point to over 500 jobs in Mt Druitt in union shops with fair wages and conditions which gave the lie to WorkChoices. Spotlight employees know that this 2 cent AWA is a bad deal and deserve better. The Union said that their message to Spotlight employees was that the Government's legislation would not protect them and that they should not sign an AWA but should sign a union card. The Union said that they would continue their campaign to educate and organise Spotlight employees with the aim of securing a collective outcome that would deliver a fair deal for all.
Com. M. Lennon moved the Executive Recommendation
"That the correspondence be received and Unions NSW reaffirm its support for the SDA's campaign against Spotlight's attempts to undermine wages and conditions through the introduction of AWA's.
Further, we condemn the falsehoods spread by the Prime Minister that the introduction by Spotlight of AWA's has lead to job creation in the Company.
Further, Unions NSW convene a meeting of interested affiliates to discuss how we can assist the SDA with this campaign."
Com. G. Dwyer seconded and spoke to the resolution.
CARRIED
REPORTS
1. Central Coast Your Rights At Work Campaign Website.
The Acting Secretary Com. M. Lennon reported on the successful launch of the Central Coast Your Rights At Work Campaign's Website -www.centralcoastrightsrightsatwork.com.au and encouraged all affiliates to have a look, support and to get involved in the Campaign.
Com. M. Lennon moved :-
"That the report be received and noted"
Com. G. Derrick seconded.
CARRIED
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
1. "Your Rights At Work" - Family & Friends Community Day
Monday, 12th June 2006
From 12.30p.m at Penrith Lakes
For further information contract Mary Yaager, Unions NSWOn 9264 1691 or 0408 931 899
2. Blacktown Festival, Saturday 3rd June 2006 - 10a.m. - 4p.m.
"Your Rights At Work" Stall. There will be a petition - seeking 5000 signatures. For further information contact Rebel Hanlon at CFMEU.
3. Unions NSW Meeting Thursday 8th June 2006
There will be no meeting next Thursday night owing To the ALP State Conference. Meetings will resume on Thursday 15th June 2006.
COUNCIL ADJOURNED AT 6:50 PM
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