Meeting held : 24 August 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 24TH AUGUST 2006
IN THE TRADES HALL AUDITORIUM
AT 4 GOULBURN STREET, SYDNEY, AT 6:07 PM
The President Com. S. Moait occupied the Chair.
PRESENT: - J. Robertson [Secretary] M. Lennon [Assistant Secretary],
C. Christodoulou, A. Peters (Deputy Assistant Secretaries).
MINUTES: -
The Secretary, Com. J. Robertson moved: -
"That the minutes as circulated be received".
Com. B. Riordan seconded.
CARRIED
The Secretary, Com. J. Robertson moved: -
"That the minutes as circulated be adopted".
Com. R. Collison seconded.
CARRIED
CREDENTIALS
From The Textile, Clothing & Footwear Union of Australia, NSW Branch appointing:- H. McNabb in place of S. Davies and M. Edwards in place of J. Owen.
From The Australian Workers' Union, Greater NSW Branch appointing:- G. Hillier in place of R. O'Neill.
The Secretary, Com. J. Robertson moved: -
"That the credentials be received and the delegates welcomed".
Com. N. Lewocki seconded.
CARRIED
APOLOGIES
Apologies were received and accepted for: - M. Thistlethwaite, G. Derrick,
A. Claassens, F. Barnes, C. Game, C. O'Sheades.
The Secretary, Com. J. Robertson moved: -
"That the apologies be received and accepted".
Com. M. Want seconded.
CARRIED
EXECUTIVE BUSINESS
CORRESPONDENCE
1. From the Rail Tram and Bus Union, NSW Branch: advising Unions NSW of the success of the RTBU's Guards' Sub-Division campaign to have their member reinstated after the unprecedented and unfair tactics of RailCorp in dismissing their member's ability to defend himself. The Union thanked Unions NSW and delegates for their support and said that the outcome not only demonstrated the power and outcomes that RTBU members could achieve when they remained united. They said that this incident highlighted how we as a movement must remain vigilant and not allow unfair and anti-worker precedents to be established in our workplaces.
Com. J. Robertson moved the Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and the RTBU be congratulated for the success in having their member in the Guards'Sub-Division reinstated."
Com. N. Lewocki.
CARRIED
2. From the Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union, NSW Branch:- advising Unions NSW of the arrest and gaoling of workers at Toyota Motors in the Philippines last week. The Union said that members of the Toyota Motor Philippines Corporation Workers Association (TMPCWA) had held a peaceful rally outside the Department of Labour and Employment as part of their campaign for recognition of their free trade union in place of the company union and to support the reinstatement of 233 illegally dismissed workers. They said that the workers had been dismissed in 2001 for their part in the campaign for a Collective Agreement and a free trade union. The Union advised that the Company's response to the peaceful protest was to have their security guards confront the workers, firing live ammunition into the rally. They said that this had resulted in serious injury to six of the workers and the arrest of 21, including the Union's leadership. Many other workers were seriously injured when the police became involved in
the affray. The AMWU advised that both the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (CFTU) and International Metalworkers Federation (IMF) were supporting the Toyota workers' campaign and were co-ordinating a international Day of Action on 12th September. They requested the endorsement by Unions NSW of the participation by all affiliates in the Day of Action as a peaceful means of supporting our comrades in the Philippines and also free trade unions around the world.
Com. J. Robertson moved the Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and Unions NSW condemn the injuring, arrest and gaoling of Toyota workers in the Philippines and support the Day of Action on September 12th."
Com. P. Bastian seconded and spoke to the resolution.
CARRIED
3. From the National Tertiary Education Union, New South Wales Branch: advising Unions NSW of the University of New South Wales Vice Chancellor, Professor Fred Hilmer's email sent to 1,200 general staff calling for expressions of interest in a voluntary redundancy. They said that at the same time, 100 security and cleaning staff were advised that their jobs would be outsourced. The Union said that these announcements were part of the Vice Chancellor's cost-cutting exercise which was aimed at shedding up to 500 administrative and support staff at the university. Professor Hilmer has previously stated that there were too many general staff, but the union had no idea of the extent he was prepared to slash jobs. They said that the university aims to achieve a reduced ratio of general staff to academic staff because of the premise that "every dollar spent on divisional support functions is less money that is available for the university to spend directly on academic and research activities." This was despite the fact that the highest-ranked research university in Australia, the Australian National University, currently employed 1.5 general staff for each academic staff member which is currently higher than the current ratio at UNSW. The Union said that their major concern was increased workloads of the staff left after the slash and burn exercise, similar to Newcastle University last year when they had to re-hire significant numbers of staff to replace those who took redundancy packages. The Union believes that Professor Hilmer is showing his inexperience in higher education by being dismissive of the role of general staff and is showing his lack of understanding of the nature of this industry. The NTEU requested Unions NSW and its affiliates support them in their stand against these job cuts by directly contacting the Vice Chancellor, Professor Fred Hilmer to voice concern with his aggressive attack on the security of general staff at UNSW.
Com. J. Robertson moved the Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and Unions NSW condemns the attempts by the University of NSW to slash general staff positions.
Further, Unions NSW will advise the Vice Chancellor of its condemnation of the job cuts and encourage affiliates to do the same."
Com. S. Price seconded and spoke to the resolution.
CARRIED
4. From the Shop, Distributive & Allied Employees' Association, NSW Branch:- advising Unions NSW that as part of the ongoing "Your Rights At Work" campaign the SDA is maintaining their focus on organising new members around the issue of the radical new industrial relations reform. They advised that last week a team of SDA Organisers and Delegates undertook an organising blitz on two shopping centres simultaneously. The Union said that a few days prior to the blitz a mail out to existing SDA members at the targeted shopping centres informed members of an action plan to protect retail working conditions based on well organised workplaces; constructively engaging key Company representatives; and a community campaign for a fair and equitable industrial relations system. The Union said that members were asked to talk to other employees in the days before the blitz about the benefits of SDA membership. There was a very high awareness of the radical new industrial relations laws and the "Your Rights At Work" campaign amongst both members and prospective members in the shops. The Union said that it was pleased to report that over a three day period Organisers, Delegates and members had organised over 270 new members in the blitz. They said that of the 400 shop assistants approached almost 2/3 joined the SDA and that new members came from all age groups and from workplaces as diverse as Just Jeans, Priceline and Red Rooster. They said that the message from the shop assistants was clear that now more than ever unions were relevant in the workplace. The SDA believes that well organised workplaces are the backbone on the Your Rights At Work campaign and that they would continue to organise for better workplace laws.
Com. J. Robertson moved the Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and Unions NSW and the success of the SDA's targeted organising campaign be noted and they be congratulated for their efforts over the three day blitz."
Com. G. Dwyer seconded.
CARRIED
5. From the National Tertiary Education Union, New South Wales Branch: advising Unions NSW of the provocative move by the management at the University of Sydney to have all 5,500 staff on Australian Workplace Agreements. They said that university management had announced that they would try to lure staff onto AWAs with a non-guaranteed 6% performance bonus, while at the same time making it easier to sack staff, take disciplinary action and strip significant conditions of staff which currently are provided for under their union collective agreement. The Union said that the university claims that AWAs would promote academic and research excellence but they have been totally unable to explain how this will happen. The core conditions at risk include all leave arrangements, academic freedom, powers to terminate staff, and no access to the Australian Industrial Relations Commission to arbitrate disputes. The management's aggressive marketing of AWAs and support for the HEWRRs and WorkChoices legislation, was evidenced by their production of a 54 page AWA Handbook, 14 different template AWAs, and the establishment of an AWA Service Centre to administer the AWAs. The Union is advising staff not to sign an AWA as they would not only be inferior overall, but were guaranteed to drag down conditions and pay for staff in years to come and would change the collegial nature of the university working life. They said that they were not aware of any other university actively pushing AWAs in this way and that it was a shame that instead of the university leading the way with pay and conditions, they were pushing a worst practice industrial model. The NTEU requested that Unions NSW and affiliates support them in its stand against AWAs, by directly contacting the Vice Chancellor, Professor Gavin Brown to express concern at his aggressive support of these AWAs and the effect on job security and conditions at the University of Sydney.
Com. J. Robertson moved the Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and Unions NSW support the NTEU's campaign opposing the introduction of AWAs at Sydney University that seek to undermine conditions.
Further, Unions NSW write to the Vice Chancellor advising of our support for the union campaign and encourage affiliates to do the same."
Com. M. Thomson seconded and spoke to the resolution.
CARRIED
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
1. Funeral Arrangements for The Honourable Mr Justice
John Cahill
Friday, 25th August 2006
10.30a.m.
St. Mary's Church
Cnr. Ridge & Miller Streets
North Sydney
2. CFMEU Solidarity Rally Re Prosecutions
Date: Tuesday 29th August 2006
Time: 10.00a.m.
Venue: Trades Hall 4 Goulburn Street Sydney
(Entry Via 377 Sussex Street)
For further information phone CFMEU 9749 0400 or
email enquiries@nsw.cfmeu.asn.au
3. Liverpool Your Rights At Work Committee
The inaugural meeting of Liverpool Your Rights At Work Committee
Date: Wednesday 13th September 2006
Time: 7.30p.m.
Venue: Wattle Grove Community Centre
Village Way, Wattle Grove
Anyone who opposes Howard's IR Laws and supports the ACTU/Unions NSW Campaign will be welcome. The Committee will act under the auspices of Unions NSW. Further meetings will be held in the same venue at 7.30p.m. on Wednesday, 11th October; 8th November and 13th December.
For further information contact Alison Peters on 0425 231 814.
4. Central Coast Your Rights At Work Campaign Trivia Night
Date: Saturday, 2nd September 2006
Time: 7.00p.m. for 7.30p.m start
Venue: Mingara - Recreation Room (Upstairs)
Mingara Drive, Tumbi Umbi (Off Wyong Road)
Cost: $10.00, Nibbles included
Tables of 10, single tickets available.
A free courtesy bus runs till 12.45p.m. to:
The Entrance, Shelly Beach, Bateau Bay, Chittaway Bay,
Long Jetty and surrounding suburbs
RSVP Essential to Jen 0437 592 003
COUNCIL ADJOURNED AT 6: 49PM
President: ____________________________________
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