Meeting held : 22 June 2006
Chair of Meeting: The President, Comrade. Sandra Moait
Location of the meeting : Trades Hall Auditorium, 4 Goulburn St Sydney
UNIONS NSW MEETING MINUTES
MEETING HELD THURSDAY 22nd JUNE 2006
IN THE TRADES HALL AUDITORIUM
AT 4 GOULBURN STREET, SYDNEY, AT 6:00 PM
The President Com. S. Moait occupied the Chair.
PRESENT: - M. Lennon (Acting Secretary) M. Thistlethwaite, A. Peters (Deputy Assistant Secretaries).
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. Holmes seconded.
CARRIED
CREDENTIALS
From The Australian Services Union NSW & ACT Services Branch appointing: - L Johnson in place of A. Dasvarma and B. Croslow in place of F. Teirney as delegates for 2006.
From The Textile Clothing & Footwear Union of Australia, NSW Branch appointing: - M. Edwards in place of S. Davies and H. Nguyen in place of J. Owen.
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: - J. Robertson, C. Christodoulou, J. Diamond, M. Want, P. Jenkins and J. Keijda.
The Acting Secretary, Com. M. Lennon, moved: -
"That the apologies be received and accepted".
Com. F. Barnes seconded.
CARRIED
EXECUTIVE BUSINESS
CORRESPONDENCE
1. From the Communications Electrical Electronic Energy Information Postal Plumbing and Allied Services Union of Australia, NSW Telecommunications & Services Branch: - advising Unions NSW that as part of the June Week of Action that the Inner West Your Rights at Work Community Group were holding a protest in support of Optus workers. The Union said that Optus technicians had been sacked and re-offered their positions as independent contractors on lower pay and conditions. The Union said that this made Optus one of the first major employers to use the new industrial relations legislation to attack workers rights. The Union advised that the protest would be held on Thursday, 29th June from 4.30p.m. - 7.00pm outside 'Optus World' corner of Hunter Street and 280 George Street, Sydney to highlight this issue to members of the public. The Union said that they were supporting the Inner West Your Rights At Work Committee's action and requested that Unions NSW publicise the protest action amongst affiliates to encourage their members to attend. Further information could be obtained from the community group on 0423 388 974 or from the union office on 9281 2811.
Com. M. Lennon the Executive Recommendation
"That the correspondence be received and Unions NSW support the protest in support of Optus workers next Thursday and that affiliates be advised of the details".
Com. V. Horrex seconded.
CARRIED
2. From the Public Service Association of New South Wales: - advising Unions NSW that on Thursday, 8th June 2006 six of their members, all Legal Officers working for New South Wales Police were approached by Senior Management and told that they were to pack up their personal items. They were then escorted from the building and all access to their workplace was removed. The Union said that their members were then informed that they were now displaced employees. The Union said that they would not stand the NSW Government acting like a Patrick's Corporation. The Union said that the Government were currently trying to negotiate a new policy for displace employees with Unions NSW and its affiliates. The Union said that the Government were trying to assure the unions that this was an attempt to improve the way displaced employees would be looked after, however actions such as those which had occurred at NSW Police gave the opposite impression. The PSA requested that Unions NSW seek a meeting with the Premier to gain assurances that this type of action would never be repeated by a NSW Labor Government.
Com. M. Lennon moved the Executive Recommendation
"That the correspondence be received and Unions NSW seek a meeting with the Premier regarding the treatment by the NSW Police Department of its legal staff and the managing of the displaced employee policy."
Com. S. Walsh seconded.
CARRIED
3. From the Shop, Distributive & Allied Employees' Association, NSW Branch: - requesting that as part of the union movements campaign against the radical WorkChoices legislation, that Unions NSW give consideration to the promotion of reasonable employers to the Australian community, whilst at the same time attacking those employers who seek to treat their employees, and therefore our community, with disdain. The Union said that a number of union officials had already given some though to the concept of promoting community approved employers, however for such a concept to be successful, it should have application across as many industries as possible. The Union requested that Unions NSW develop a draft proposal for a scheme which would effectively promote those employers who promote and respect our rights at work. Such a proposal would need to give consideration to accreditation criteria, to processes for the removal of accreditation, and to effective promotion of the scheme.
Com. M. Lennon moved the Executive Recommendation
"That the correspondence be received and Unions NSW draft a proposal for a scheme to promote employers who support the Rights At Work Campaign".
Com. J. B. Smith seconded.
CARRIED
5. From the Rail, Tram and Bus Union, NSW Branch: - advising Unions NSW that RailCorp were targeting their delegates WorkChoices style. The Union said that it was only with the assistance of their members and their preparedness to volunteer in community campaigns that the Rights At Work Campaign and similar actions are so successful. They Union said that they were deeply concerned when two RTBU organisers in the guards and driver divisions of the RTBU received a letter from RailCorp management stating that it had:
"...recently come to RailCorp's attention that RTBU delegates from RailCorp may be working at the RTBU office on their days off and holidays from RailCorp.
To ensure that the employees' obligations are met under RailCorp's secondary employment policy and that [RailCorp meets] fatigue management guidelines, I would ask that all these delegates' obtain the necessary written approval from their managers."
The Union advised that in addition, RailCorp had attached a copy of their secondary employment policy which states that any secondary employment a member is involved in must not:
"Involve lobbying RailCorp, or any other government agency or Member of Parliament, particularly if such lobbying conflicts with the interests of RailCorp."
The Union said that given that this letter had arrived shortly after another which RailCorp had sent to the RTBU requesting that they provide the names of all RailCorp delegates, the RTBU assumes that RailCorp is attempting to silence their workplace activists and that if they were not silent then they have made if clear that they will continue to directly attack and intimidate RTBU members. The Union said that they were bewildered to understand how a Labor Government, a Premier and a Minister for Transport who purportedly stated that they were opposed to WorkChoices and about protecting NSW workers could continue to standby and allow such outrageous behaviour to be fostered in a Government entity.
Com. M. Lennon moved the Executive Recommendation
"That the correspondence be received and that Unions NSW condemns any attempts by RailCorp to silence RTBU activists who are involved in the WorkChoices campaign or any other campaign to protect member's rights."
Com. N. Lewocki seconded and spoke to the resolution.
CARRIED
5. From the Shop, Distributive & Allied Employees' Association, NSW Branch: - advising that despite every effort by the Federal Government early this week to divert attention away from the hard facts of the Spotlight AWA is was those very facts that would ultimately see Australian voters turn their backs on John Howard. The Union said that Mr Howard cannot change the fact that Spotlight AWA offered a 2c per hour wage increase for the loss of a host of so-called protected matters. They said that a simple examination of various weekly rosters demonstrated the loss of income each week for new Spotlight employees and that the Prime Minister may like to tell the Australian public what amount is an acceptable loss. Was it $4.42 per week, $17.84 per week, $20.57 per week, $71.52 per week, $90.00 per week or $164.21 per week. The Union said that all these figures were real outcomes under the permitted rosters in the Spotlight AWA when compared to existing awards. The loss of potential earnings would be borne be new employees in a successful company which had placed its two owners 86th on the BRW's Rich 200 list with a combined work of $340 million. The Union said that Ms Harris had refused to step back from the controversy surrounding the Spotlight AWA and that she had yesterday explained in her local paper why she had agreed to speak on ABC's Lateline program on Tuesday, 20th June and why she continues to stand firm.
"...I stood up for what I believe in and for my children and other people's children. I'm the tip of the iceberg, it's a whole new ball game and the kids [just] aren't streetwise."
The Union said that the most telling signal for Mr Howard was that Annette feels buoyed by the support she has received from other ordinary Australians, saying that not one person had said she had done the wrong thing. Ms Harris also said that despite being a life long Liberal voter that she had now deserted the Liberal party because John Howard's IR reforms show no compassion for low paid workers.
Com. M. Lennon moved the Executive Recommendation
"That the correspondence be received and Unions NSW condemn the Howard Government for attempting to divert attention away from the damaging effects AWA's have on workers wages and conditions.
Further, Unions NSW continue to highlight the abuse of AWA's by employers in NSW."
Com. B. Smith seconded.
CARRIED
6. From the Transport Workers' Union of Australia, NSW Branch: - advising Unions NSW of a dispute between owner driver members of their Union and Toohey's Lion Nathan breweries. The Union said that in May this year, without advising current drivers, Toohey's announced they had accepted a new contractor. Currently there are 57 drivers engaged on the contract delivering Toohey's products across Sydney, the Central Coast and Wollongong to pubs and bottle shops. Many have been delivering for Toohey's for four decades and have been re-engaged as new contracts were rolled over. The Union said that the current contract with Toll was due to expire on July 31 this year however Toohey's have awarded the new contract to Linfox. They said that the Linfox contract offers the drivers their same jobs back with a 42% pay cut and an additional $50,000 capital outlay each and, further that Linfox were refusing to recognise the goodwill invested by each of the 57 drivers to buy a Toohey's truck. Between the drivers they have more than $21 million of their personal goodwill at stake. The Union said that many of the drivers will now literally lose their family homes as they would not be able to afford to repay their debts with a 42% reduction in their rates of pay. They said that it would make their ability to run a financially viable small business impossible and would send their families broke. The Union requested that Unions NSW support their members campaign against Toohey's and that Toohey's drinkers be encouraged to voice their concerns to Toohey's management and Toohey's suppliers.
Com. M. Lennon moved the Executive Recommendation
"That the correspondence be received and Unions NSW offer its support for the TWU campaign and in doing so condemn the attempt by Toohey's and Linfox to reduce driver contractors pay, and we all on all NSW drinkers to take this into consideration when they purchase their next drink."
Com. D. Kicuroski seconded.
CARRIED
7. From the Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union, NSW Branch:- advising Unions NSW that The Workers Compensation and Occupational Health and Safety Council had established a Working Party to review draft guidelines for dispute resolution. The Union said that WorkCover had indicated that all comments relating to these draft guidelines shoud be finalised by June 30th 2006. The Unions said that as there are six comprehensive documents for consideration, which would take unions a considerable amount of time to digest and respond to that NSW contact the Minister for Industrial Relations regarding an adequate period of consultation be given to unions to enable them to give proper consideration to the legislation and the guidelines which would impact on injured workers and their access to the Workers Compensation and Dispute Resolution.
Com. M. Lennon moved the Executive Recommendation
"That the correspondence be received and Unions NSW contact the Minister's Office seeking an extension of time for consultation over the WorkCover Guidelines for dispute resolution as a matter of urgency."
Com. C. Drane seconded.
CARRIED
REPORTS
1. Week of Action
The Acting Secretary Com. M. Lennon reported on the Week of Action events, in particular the June 28 Rally at Blacktown. A meeting of affiliates regarding arrangements for buses shall take place at 2p.m. on Monday 26th June 2006.
Com. Lennon encouraged all affiliates and their members to attend the Rally.
2. Television Advertisements.
The Acting Secretary Com. M. Lennon reported that the union movement second series of television advertisements in response to WorkChoices had begun. Delegates were shown the advertisements on the Auditorium Screen.
Com. M. Lennon moved:-
"That the reports be received and noted"
Com. M. O'Halloran seconded.
CARRIED
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
1. Week of Action - Ecumenical Service
Sunday 25th June at 2.30p.m
Uniting Church
264 Pitt Street Sydney
2. "Your Rights At Work" Central Coast Campaign
Retirees Meeting - Monday 3rd July 2006
at 10.30a.m at Gosford Leagues Club,
Dane Drive, Gosford.
RSVP to Ros Aldridge on 1800 688 919
3. East Timor Public Forum
What Happened? Why? Where To Next?
Thursday 6th July 2006
12.00pm - 2.00p.m, Trades Hall Auditorium
Speakers: Tim Anderson AID/WATCH, Peter Jennings,
Union Aid Abroad APHEDA, Elisabeth Lino de Araujo,
Union Aid Abroad - APHEDA East Timor, Tim Brunero,
Union Activist, Diana Lobo, Student
4. Bernie Banton Thank You Dinner
Balmain Leagues Club
Saturday 22nd July 2006 7p.m.
Friends of Bernie's are having a Thank You Dinner,
to give the community an opportunity to recognise his selfless
and tireless efforts in representing current and future asbestos sufferers and their families. For further information at Bernies_Benefit_Dinner@hotmail.com or Bob Breen on 0412 204 445
5. The Industrial Relations Society of NSW
Annual General Meeting & Luncheon
Friday 4th August 2006, From 12 Noon.
NSW Parliament House, Macquarie Street, Sydney
Guest Speaker: The Hon. John Della Bosca, MLC
NSW Minister for Industrial Relations
For further information and to RSVP 9630 5211
COUNCIL ADJOURNED AT 6: 45 PM
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