Meeting held : 05 October 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 5TH OCTOBER 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], C. Christodoulou,
M. Thistlethwaite, A. Peters (Deputy Assistant Secretaries).
MINUTES: -
The Acting Secretary, Com. M. Lennon moved: -
"That the minutes as circulated be received".
Com. B. Riordan seconded.
CARRIED
The Acting Secretary, Com. M. Lennon moved: -
"That the minutes as circulated be adopted".
Com. C. Game seconded.
CARRIED
CREDENTIALS
From The New South Wales Local Government, Clerical, Administrative, Energy, Airlines & Utilities Union appointing: - J. Nucifora in place of P. Kelly.
From The Textile, Clothing & Footwear Union of Australia, NSW Branch appointing:- P. Lane in place of J. Tubner.
The Acting Secretary, Com. M. Lennon moved: -
"That the credentials be received and the delegates welcomed".
Com. W. Tomlins seconded.
CARRIED
APOLOGIES
Apologies were received and accepted for: - J. Robertson, B. Smith, M. Thomson and B. Kruse.
The Acting Secretary, Com. M. Lennon moved: -
"That the apologies be received and accepted".
Com. T. Ayers seconded.
CARRIED
EXECUTIVE BUSINESS
CORRESPONDENCE
1. From the Construction Forestry Mining & Energy Union, Construction & General Division, NSW Branch: advising Unions NSW that a number of activists in the City of Canada Bay local government area were in the process of forming a local Your Rights @ Work Campaign Committee. The Union said that an inaugural meeting for the Campaign Committee would be held at 6.30p.m on Monday 20th November at the Concord Bowling Club, Clermont Avenue, North Strathfield. They said that the initial objective of the group would be to campaign with the Finance Sector Union against the plan to send jobs offshore at Westpac's Concord Service Centre. The CFMEU requested that Unions NSW endorse their campaign and circulate their correspondence to all affiliates for their information and support.
Com. M. Lennon moved the Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and details of the formation of the Canada Bay Your Rights At Work Committee be circulated to affiliates for their information and support."
Com. R. Mallia seconded.
CARRIED
2. From the Acting Commissioner for Fair Trading, Rod Stowe:- seeking nominations from Unions NSW for appointment to the Home Building Advisory Council. He said that the functions of the Home Building Advisory Council were to advise the Minister for Fair Trading on consumer and industry-related issues relating to the home building industry, including the provision of funding for education and research. It was emphasised that membership of the Advisory Council is in an individual capacity and that the interests of industry bodies were not formally represented on the Council.
Com. M. Lennon moved the Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and Unions NSW liaise with the building unions regarding nominations to the Home Building Advisory Council."
Com. R. Collison seconded.
CARRIED
3. From the Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union, NSW Branch:- advising Unions NSW of a Benefit Dinner at Balmain Leagues Club on Friday, 27th October 2006 commencing at 6.30p.m. They said that all proceeds from the dinner would go towards supporting Katrina Ford a lawyer in their National Office who has become a paraplegic after a tragic accident in July. The Union said that Katrina and her family were working hard to come to terms with the enormous changes in their lives. However there are many inevitable costs that the family must now face as they adjust their home to meet Katrina's special needs. The Union advised that bookings and any queries should be made to Katie Gillen on (02) 9897 4291 or email katie.gillen@amwu.asn.au.
Com. M. Lennon moved the Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and Unions NSW circulate information regarding the Katrina Ford Benefit Dinner to affiliates for their information and support."
Com. T. Ayers seconded.
CARRIED
4. From the Local Government and Shires Association of NSW (LGSA):- advising Unions NSW of the recently established Strengthening Local Government Task Force in response to the Independent Inquiry into Financial Sustainability of NSW Local Government. The LGSA advised that the Task Force had decided to establish a series of working groups to respond to the Inquiry findings and recommendations. They said that the Task Force was currently organising workshops to enable working group members to understand that their role would be to support the task Force in their response to the Inquiry's recommendations as well as an overview of the Local Government Inquiry and the functions of the Task Force. They advised that Workshops would be taking place on 18th October 2006 at the LGSA offices and invited Unions NSW to participate.
Com. M. Lennon moved the Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and that the invitation to take part in the LGSA's Strengthening Local Government Task Force be referred to a meeting of local government unions."
Com. M. Want seconded.
CARRIED
5. From the New South Wales Local Government, Clerical, Administrative, Energy, Airlines & Utilities Union, NSW Branch:- advising Unions NSW that the Union was continuing to see examples of the abuse by employers of the 457 visa system to undercut wages and conditions. The Union said that the latest example was the American Express case which was reported last week where the company was seeking to pay workers from Japan $6,000 per annum less than the minimum salary to act as interpreters. The Union said that the NSW Minister for Industrial Relations pointed out that the other factor underlying this issue was WorkChoices. He said that the removal of the safety net and the independent umpire by WorkChoices was allowing employers to use 457 visas to undercut Australian conditions and that the response to the American Express case by both the Immigration and Workplace Relations Minister showed that the WorkChoices story just gets worse.
Com. M. Lennon moved the Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and Unions NSW condemns the continued use by employers of 457 visas and the WorkChoices laws to attack Australian working conditions."
Com. M. Stuart seconded.
CARRIED
6. From the Liquor, Hospitality & Miscellaneous Union, Liquor & Hospitality Division, NSW Branch: - advising Unions NSW of their current campaign to encourage Compass Group (Australia) Pty Ltd who are contracted to provide catering services at the Sydney Cricket Ground amongst other places, to negotiate a fair and reasonable collective agreement for casual catering staff at the Sydney Cricket Ground. The Union said that over the last few weeks that Compass had attempted to rush through an unreasonable "employee agreement" to cover over 800 casual employees at the SCG. They said that the company had produced an agreement entitled "All Leisure Collective Agreement" without consultation with employees or the Union, despite many Union members nominating their Union as their bargaining agent. The company sent out copies of the agreement to some staff but not all and attempted to have them vote on it during a game they were working at on 22nd September 2006. The were advised by the Union and the OEA that they were required to at least provide a copy of the agreement to all staff 7 days prior to allowing them to vote on it and that they had failed to do so. The company simply extended the voting period to 29th September but by that time many employees still had not seen the agreement. The Union advised that despite strong objections from them to the process being followed by the company, as well as objection to the content of the agreement, the company were determined to push ahead. The Union said that the proposed agreement would have removed many award provisions previously enjoyed by employees under the Caterers Employees (State) Award. They said that they have been advised that up to 63 people voted and that 50 people had voted against the agreement. The Union said that they were now trying to encourage the Company to listen to its employees and negotiate a fair and reasonable agreement with the Union and its employees rather than continue to try to take advantage of the Howard Government's Industrial Laws.
Com. M. Lennon moved the Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and Unions NSW congratulate both the LHMU and members at the SCG for their success in rejecting the proposed non-union collective agreement offered by the Compass Group which sought to slash wages and conditions.
Further, Unions NSW supports the LHMU and its members in their ongoing campaign to negotiate a fair and equitable agreement."
Com. M. Gatfield seconded.
CARRIED
REPORTS
1. November 30 National Sky Channel Broadcast
The Acting Secretary, Com. M. Lennon reported on the November 30 National Sky Channel Broadcast and indicated to affiliates that leaflets will be available shortly for distribution to the community with respect to the venues.
Com. M. Lennon moved:-
"That the report be received and noted"
Com. N. Lewocki seconded.
CARRIED
2. Bill Shorten vs Joe Hockey Debate
The Acting Secretary, Com. M. Lennon reported on the very successful debate between Bill Shorten and Joe Hockey held at Sydney University. Com. Lennon said that by all accounts Bill Shorten easily won through several "knock-out blows. He said that highlights of the debate would be shown at next week's Unions NSW meeting.
Com. M. Lennon moved:-
"That the report be received and noted"
Com. G. Dwyer seconded.
CARRIED
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
1. 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 CentreJustice 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
2. 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.
COUNCIL ADJOURNED AT 6: 20PM
President:____________________________________
About Unions NSW
