Meeting held : 28 September 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 28th SEPTEMBER 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, M. Thistlethwaite, A. Peters (Deputy Assistant Secretaries).
MINUTES: -
The Secretary, Com. J. Robertson moved: -
"That the minutes as circulated be received".
Com. M. O'Halloran seconded.
CARRIED
The Secretary, Com. J. Robertson moved: -
"That the minutes as circulated be adopted".
Com. R. Coombs seconded.
CARRIED
CREDENTIALS
From The Textile, Clothing & Footwear Union of Australia, NSW Branch appointing:- M. Edwards in place of J. Owen and H. Nguyen in place of S. Davies.
From The New South Wales Teachers Federation appointing:- F. Rainey in place of J. Irving.
From New South Wales Local Government, Clerical, Administrative, Energy, Airlines & Utilities Union, NSW Branch appointing:- P. Kelly in place of B. Harris.
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: - G. Dwyer, B. Smith, C. O'Sheades, B. Holmes, J. Kiedja, A. Gavrielatos, B. Lipscombe, S. Callan, L. Takayama.
The Secretary, Com. J. Robertson moved: -
"That the apologies be received and accepted".
Com. M. Want seconded.
CARRIED
EXECUTIVE BUSINESS
CORRESPONDENCE
1. From the Construction Forestry Mining & Energy Union, Construction & General Division, NSW Branch: advising Unions NSW that they had been contacted by war veterans at Belmore who are facing eviction from their units. The Union said that these units are owned by the Totally and Partially Incapacitated Veterans Association who have decided to sell the units and relocate the veterans to alternate accommodation in regional NSW. The Union advised that the veterans are opposed to the sale as these units have been their home for, in some cases, many decades. They said that the CFMEU was placing a ban on the demolition of these units if they are sold and sought the support of Unions NSW with their campaign to ensure dignity for the veterans.
Com. J. Robertson moved the Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and Unions NSW support the CFMEU's campaign of opposition to the sale of war veterans units at Belmore."
Com. R. Mallia seconded.
M. Tanovic a resident of Belmore addressed the meeting.
CARRIED
2. From the Australian Workers' Union, Port Kembla, South Coast and Southern Highlands Branch:- formally seeking affiliation to Unions NSW after a decision had been taken at their last executive meeting.
Com. J. Robertson moved the Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and Unions NSW accept the application for affiliation from the AWU, Port Kembla Branch."
Com. N. Allen seconded.
CARRIED
3. From the Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union, NSW Branch: - advising Unions NSW of the success of the LHMU's Clean Start campaign. The Union said that ISS Australia's largest cleaning company and all major property owners had agreed to the principles for a clean start. However, there was still some way to go before cleaners would have secure jobs with fair pay. They Union said that they were asking the State Labor Government, as major property owners in their own right and as major tenants, to be part of the process of fixing new industry standards. They said that they did not want State Governments to be bound by a more onerous standard but they did want them to be part of an industry-wide solution. The Union said that they wanted State Premiers to be part of the community advertisement featuring 40 community leaders which would be published in the Australian Financial Review on world anti-poverty day on the 17th October. They said that they believed that Unions NSW could take an important role in making this happen and asked for assistance in seeking a meeting with the Premier to discuss their campaign.
Com. J. Robertson moved the Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and Unions NSW seek a meeting with the Premier as a matter of urgency regarding support for the Clean Start Campaign."
Com. M. O'Halloran seconded.
CARRIED
4. From the Construction Forestry Mining & Energy Union, Construction & General Division, NSW Branch:- advising Unions NSW that they have organised a Workers Rights Forum for Wednesday, 1st November and that one of the 107 CFMEU members from the Mandurah Rail project in Western Australia, Mal Peters and his partner Bernadette would address the forum. Mal was the safety officer on the Mandurah project who was sacked when he returned to work on the project. The Union advised that the forum was being co-sponsored by the NSW Greens and the NSW Teachers Federation and sought support from Unions NSW for the forum.
Com. J. Robertson moved the Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and details of the Workers Rights Forum to be held on November 1 be circulated to affiliates for their information and support."
Com. R. Mallia seconded.
CARRIED
5. From the Hon. John Della Bosca, MLC, Minister for Industrial Relations: - advising Unions NSW of a Draft version of the Industrial Relations (Child Employment) Bill 2006. He advised that the Bill was intending to preserve the pay and conditions that young workers were entitled to prior to the introduction of WorkChoices in March 2006. The Bill establishes that employers could not employ children under 18 years of age on conditions that would provide a net detriment to the children when compared against the relevant award and applicable industrial legislation. He said that it would also ensure that children employed by a constitutional corporation in New South Wales continued to have access to the unfair dismissal jurisdiction of the Industrial Relations Commission of New South Wales. The Minister said that to ensure that affiliates had adequate time to consider and respond to the Bill he was circulating it as an Exposure Draft. He said that he was interested in affiliate's views and invited written submissions by 5p.m on Wednesday, 18th October 2006.
Minister Della Bosca also advised Unions NSW that as a consequence of the implications of existing sick leave and long service portability provisions for local government employees under the WorkChoices legislation, that the New South Wales Government announced that it was their intention to amend the Local Government (General) Regulation 2005. He said that the initiative had attracted broad support from the key industry stakeholders and followed other positive progress including the development of template s146A referral agreements for councils allowing the Industrial Relations Commission of New South Wales to resolves disputes.
Com. J. Robertson moved the Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and the NSW Government be congratulated on its initiative with the Child Employment Bill and the protection of local government workers leave entitlements.
Further, that the Child Employment Bill be referred to a meeting of affiliates for consideration."
Com. M. Want seconded.
CARRIED
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
1. Jack Lawrence Update
Jack is doing well. He is having some minor surgery and hopes to be back on deck soon.
2. WorkChoices Or No Choices
Organised by the Blue Mountains Union Council
Come For Lunch Stay For the Forum
Community Forum about WorkChoices
2.30p.m Saturday, 7th October 2006
Blackburn's Family Hotel, 15 Parke Street Katoomba
Speakers include:
Professor Joellen Riley Author of Book 'WorkChoices"
Mark McDiarmid Elizabeth Evatt Community Legal Centre
Justice Paul Munro former Snr. DP AIRC Sydney
Martin Cartwright 'Your Rights At Work Campaign',
Macquarie, Unions NSW
For further information contact Brett O'Brien 0413 866 520 or Margaret McDonough-Glenn 0401 385 509
3. Combined Retired Union Members (CRUMA)
A Special Meeting of combined union retired members will be held
Tom Mann Theatre, 128 Chalmers Street, Sydney
On Thursday, 19th October 2006 commencing at 11a.m.
To continue discussions on the consequences of Howard's IR Laws.
Guest Speakers from the community and medical profession will address the meeting. All retired union members and their guests are
invited to attend.
4. The Ultimate Bar Brawl
Is WorkChoices Better For All Australians?
Joe Hockey MP vs Bill Shorten will debate this topic at
Sydney Sydney University's Manning Bar
Thursday 5th October commencing at 1p.m.
The debate will be chaired by Professor Ron McCallum,
Dean of Sydney University Law School
Affiliates are welcome to attend and encourage their members to attend.
For further information contact Unions NSW on 9264 1691.
COUNCIL ADJOURNED AT 6: 19PM
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About Unions NSW
