Meeting held : 06 July 2006
Chair of Meeting: The Acting President, Comrade Russ Collison
Location of the meeting : Trades Hall Auditorium, 4 Goulburn St Sydney
UNIONS NSW MEETING MINUTES
MEETING HELD THURSDAY 6th July 2006
IN THE TRADES HALL AUDITORIUM
AT 4 GOULBURN STREET, SYDNEY, AT 6:05 PM
The Acting President Com. R. Collison 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. R. Mallia seconded.
CARRIED
The Acting Secretary, Com. M. Lennon moved: -
"That the minutes as circulated be adopted".
Com. B. Smith seconded.
CARRIED
CREDENTIALS
From The Australian Workers' Union, Greater NSW Branch appointing: - P. Farrow in place of S. Rumph and C. Bodnar in place of J. Clements.
From The Textile Clothing & Footwear Union of Australia, NSW Branch appointing: - P. Lane in place of B. Tubner.
The Acting Secretary, Com. M. Lennon moved: -
"That the credentials be received and the delegates welcomed".
Com. B. Riordan seconded.
CARRIED
APOLOGIES
Apologies were received and accepted for: - J. Robertson, C. Christodoulou, B. Holmes, G. Dwyer, A. Ferguson and T. Ayres.
The Acting Secretary, Com. M. Lennon moved: -
"That the apologies be received and accepted".
Com. M Stuart seconded.
CARRIED
GUEST SPEAKER
The Acting President, Com. R. Collison, introduced Elizabeth de Araujo, Office Manager, Union Aid Abroad - APHEDA in East Timor. Elizabeth said that the situation in East Timor was extremely volatile and that aid workers were working with refugees giving them food and shelter and helping them to maintain their jobs. She said that demonstrations were continuing and that the reasons for the current situation were complex. Elizabeth said that APHEDA was working with the refugees providing humanitarian aid, healthcare and were participating in the NGO Co-ordination Group. She said that APHEDA's commitment to East Timor is long-term assistance with the provision of vocational training, trade union development, arts projects and community radio.
The Acting Secretary, Com. M. Lennon in thanking Elizabeth for addressing tonight's meeting, expressed the union movement's concern regarding events in East Timor. He said he was particularly concerned that such a large proportion of the population were without homes. He said that the Union movement in NSW supported the efforts of Union Aid Abroad - APHEDA in bringing humanitarian aid to the people of East Timor.
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 of Telstra's scheme to restructure its Integrated Development Solutions (IDS) centres affecting over 450 jobs nationally. The Union said that the Parramatta IDS centre had been earmarked for closure later this year and that this would affect over 100 employees in Western Sydney who stand to lose their jobs at Parramatta. The Union said that as part of the sham restructure Telstra had reclassified the IDS jobs that lower salaries by a minimum of $10,482.00 whilst forcing workers onto AWA's to secure employment in Telstra for the other centres. The Union said that their members had been threatened with disciplinary action should they contact the media over the proposed jobs cuts and restructure. The Union advised that they had organised a Protest Meeting and BBQ between 12 noon and 2p.m. on Friday 7th July outside Telstra's offices at 87 Marsden Street Parramatta.
Com. M. Lennon moved the Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and details of the protest meeting in support of Telstra members in IDS centres be circulated to affiliates for their information and support.
Further, we condemn the Telstra attack on the conditions of IDS Centre workers."
Com. V. Horrex seconded and spoke to the resolution.
CARRIED
2. From the Construction Forestry Mining & Energy Union, Construction & General Division, NSW Branch: regarding the Supreme Court of the United States' decision that the military commissions set up to try David Hicks and other Guantanamo Bay detainees were unauthorised by federal law, not required by military necessity and flew in the face of the Geneva Convention. The Union said that Mr Hicks had been imprisoned for four and a half years without being lawfully charged and that this was a fundamental breach of human rights under the International Convention of Civil and Political rights to which Australia was a signatory. The Union said that the British Government had demanded the repatriation of British citizens from Guantanamo Bay however the Australian Government had rejected the British position, insisting that military commissions were recognised as part of US law. The Union said that as the US Supreme Court had ruled otherwise there was now no reason why David Hicks should not be brought home. They said that the Australian Government could no longer abdicate its responsibilities and that many prominent lawyers had openly criticised the Government's stand on this issue including John North of the Law Council of Australia and Nicholas Cowdrey QC, the NSW Director of Public Prosecutions. The CFMEU, in association with the NSW Teachers Federation have endorsed a statement, which had also been endorsed by many prominent community, business, trade union and religious leaders calling on the Australian Government to take immediate action to secure the repatriation of David Hicks. The CFMEU requested that Unions NSW assist with the publication of the statement by donating $1000.
Com. M. Lennon moved the Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and Unions NSW donate $1000.00 to assist in the publication of the statement by prominent community leaders regarding the David Hicks case and that affiliates be encouraged to support the statement as well."
Com. R. Mallia seconded and spoke to the resolution.
CARRIED
3. From the New South Wales Local Government, Clerical, Administrative, Energy, Airlines & Utilities Union, New South Wales Branch and Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union, New South Wales Branch: - regarding the forthcoming meeting of the Council of Australian Government (COAG). The USU said that the Australian Financial Review had reported on Wednesday July 5th on a significant list of issues which would be on the COAG agenda for the forthcoming meeting and included Rail Safety Regulation, OH& S, National Trade Management, Building Regulation, Energy & Infrastructure Regulation, including a single National Regulator for areas of National economic significance, Local Government Reform and Regulation and Regulatory Frameworks. The USU also noted that a decision had been taken at the ALP NSW Conference for greater consultation on the COAG agenda. The AMWU advised Unions NSW of recent media reports regarding a "split" between State and Federal ALP leadership on the issue of the Temporary Migration Visa Scheme and that this matter was also to be on the agenda for the next COAG meeting. Both the USU and AMWU requested that Unions NSW arrange an urgent meeting with the NSW Premier and the Minister for Industrial Relations prior to the COAG meeting next week.
Com. M. Lennon moved the Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and that Unions NSW seek an urgent meeting with the Premier regarding the COAG meeting on 14th July as requested."
Com. M. Want seconded.
Com. P. Bastian spoke to the resolution.
CARRIED
4. From the Rail Tram and Bus Union, New South Wales Branch: - advising Unions NSW that the union had received advice from RailCorp that it intended to extend common law employment contracts to groups of employees currently covered by Collective Agreements and Awards. The Union said that RailCorp had stated that after an employee had signed such a contract that they would no longer have a right of return to the collective agreement or the appropriate award once their contract had expired or they changed position. The Union said that they believed that the action by RailCorp was an endorsement of the anti-collective approach contained in the Howard Government's I.R. legislation and was contrary to the State Government's position on the rights of workers to be covered by awards and collective agreements. The Union advised that the matter was before the Federal Industrial Relations Commission and they were seeking the assistance of Unions NSW in arranging an urgent meeting with the Premier and the Minister for Transport to rectify the matter.
Com. M. Lennon moved the Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and Unions NSW condemn the attempt by RailCorp to move workers from collective agreements and awards to individual employment contracts.
Further, a meeting with the Premier and the Minister for Transport be arranged accordingly."
Com. N. Lewocki seconded.
CARRIED
5. From the Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union, New South Wales Branch: - advising Unions NSW that the NSW Joint Select Committee on Tobacco Smoking had produced a comprehensive set of recommendations dealing with the measures to reduce the incidence, over time, of smoking and smoking related adverse health effects in NSW. The Union said that they wanted to acknowledge the role played by Unions NSW in advocating the issues related to worker health before the Committee. The Union said however, they remained concerned that best practice legislation relating to passive smoking in Queensland and Tasmania had not been fully endorsed by the Committee and would only be subject to further examination. They said that the Union remained committed, with Unions NSW, to pressing for legislative change during the next twelve months to ensure hospitality workers were not exposed to passive smoking in the workplace and in particular the removal at the earliest opportunity of the exemption applying to three small high roller rooms in the Casino.
Com. M. Lennon moved the Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and in light of the report by the Upper House Committee on Tobacco smoking, Unions NSW and the relevant affiliates continue to press for legislative change to ensure hospitality workers are not exposed to the dangers of passive smoking."
Com. N. Allen seconded.
CARRIED
6. From the New South Wales Local Government, Clerical, Administrative, Energy, Airlines and Utilities Union, New South Wales Branch: regarding the Occupational Health and Safety notification to News Limited on 4th July. The Union said that they had advised New Limited that their officer, Mr Steve Donley, intended to enter News Limited premises at 2 Holt Street Surry Hills on 5th July to inspect relevant documents. The Union said that when Mr Donley attended at News Limited, officers of News Limited Ms Sheridan Jones and Mr. Andrew Biocca did not produce the required documents, claiming it was not company policy to release such documents and that the documents were available on the intranet. The Union said that they did not have access to the News Limited intranet. The two officers from News offered to produce the documents on Friday when the Union would be attending with Ms Tarquinio. The Union said that News Limited wanted their member to tender a document she had prepared outlining the particulars of her complaint, however Ms Tarquinio had been unwilling to submit the document as one of the proposed investigators, Ms. Jones, was implicated in her complaint and the member believes that Ms Jones would not be able to conduct an impartial investigation. The Union said that they were seeking the assistance of Unions NSW in notifying the WorkCover Authority and supporting the union in its endeavours to have management of News Limited recognise their responsibilities.
Com. M. Lennon moved the Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and Unions NSW remind News Limited of its obligations under the NSW OH& S Act to produce documents to authorised officers.
Further, Unions NSW notify WorkCover of a possible breach of the OH& S Act."
Com. M. Stuart seconded.
REPORTS
1. Campaign Report
The Acting Secretary, Com. M. Lennon reported on the bus trip to the North West of NSW. He said that there had been great community support at meetings and street stalls.
Com. M. Lennon also reported that he addressed a meeting of retirees on the Central Coast on Monday 3rd July at Gosford Leagues Club as part of the Central Coast "Your Rights At Work" Campaign. He said that the meeting had been well supported.
The Acting Secretary also advised that a meeting of affiliates would be held in the next few weeks to consider the implication of the proposed Federal redistribution on the targeted seats campaign.
Com. M. Lennon moved:-
"That the report be received and noted"
Com. G. Derrick seconded.
CARRIED
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
1. Evatt Foundation Sunset Seminar
Date: Wednesday 12th July 2006
Time: 5.30pm for 6p.m.
Venue: Sydney Mechanics School of Arts
280 Pitt Street Sydney
Cost: $10.00
RSVP: Phone Evatt Foundation on 9385 7137 or
Email evatt@unsw.edu.au
2. Bernie Banton Thank You Dinner
Date: Saturday 22nd July 2006
Time: 7p.m.
Venue: Balmain Leagues Club
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. Raffle Tickets are available from Unions NSW. For further information at Bernies_Benefit_Dinner@hotmail.com or Bob Breen on 0412 204 445
3. 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
4. Trade Justice Dinner
For the Australian Fair Trade and Investment Network (AFTINET)
Date: Wednesday August 16, 6.30 pm for 7pm start
Where: Marigold Restaurant, Level 5, 683 George St, Sydney 2000
Feast on a delicious four-course Chinese banquet with vegetarian options
MC: Julian Morrow, from the ABC's Chaser's War on Everything
Speaker: Sharan Burrow, President, Australian Council of Trade Unions and President of the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions
Auctions: Cartoon by Bruce Petty, painting by Rachel Szalay.
Raffle prizes of fair trade products and wine.
Cost: $55 per person
COUNCIL ADJOURNED AT 6: 40 PM
President: ____________________________________
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