Meeting held : 15 February 2007
Chair of Meeting: The Acting President, Comrade Barry Johnson
Location of the meeting : Trades Hall Auditorium, 4 Goulburn St Sydney
UNIONS NSW ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING MINUTES
MEETING HELD THURSDAY 15TH FEBRUARY 2007
IN THE TRADES HALL AUDITORIUM
AT 4 GOULBURN STREET, SYDNEY, AT 6:09 PM
The Acting President Com. B. Johnson occupied the Chair.
PRESENT: - J. Robertson (Secretary) M. Lennon (Assistant Secretary),
A. Peters, C. Christodoulou (Deputy Assistant Secretaries).
CREDENTIALS FOR TONIGHT'S MEETING
From The Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union, Construction and General Division, New South Wales Branch appointing: - W. McClelland in place of G. Preston.
From The Public Service Association of New South Wales appointing:- S. Turner, S. Walsh, B. Stephens, A. Lewis, S Van Vegchel, L. Carr, S. Vassar, S. Hameed, D. Faddoul, S. Howes, G. Shaw, G. Harris, R. Salomon, M. Hand, S. Deguara and K. Cruden.
From The Rail Tram and Bus Union, New South Wales Branch appointing:- H. Bellette in place of P. Kessey and M. Farhat in place of R. Baonza.
From The Australian Workers' Union, Greater New South Wales Branch appointing:-T. Mitchell in place of R. Collison and G. Hillier in place of N. Allen.
From The Local Government Engineers' Association of New South Wales appointing:- A. Bathe in place of G. Brock.
From The NSW Teachers Federation appointing:- A Nielson in place of S. Edsall.
From The United Services Union, New South Wales Branch appointing:- E. Rivira in place of B. Kruse.
From The Police Association of New South Wales appointing:- A Wright in place of B. Pritchard, R. Harty in place of G. Black and S. Pope in place of S. Weber.
FOR THE ENSUING YEAR
From The Funeral & Allied Industries Union of New South Wales appointing:- A Nye.
From The New South Wales Fire Brigade Employees' Union appointing: - S. Flynn, C Windsor, J. Casey, and alternate delegate T. Broadhurst.
From The Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union, Metals & Engineering Division appointing: - T. Ayres, J. Bandara, P. Bastian, L. Drury, M. Hoban, D. Kyriacou and P. Reid. The Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union, Metals & Engineering Division appointing: -
From The The Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union, Vehicle Division appointing: - S. Morgan and C. Lewin.
From The Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union, Printing Division appointing: - M. Lowe, P. Miller, G. Robinson and M. West.
From The Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union, New South Wales Branch appointing: - A. Owens, M. Boyd, S. Minutillo, J. Lloyd, J. Hawker, R. Reilly, A Sail, C. Griffith, B. Donnelly, D. Ogden, T. Moriarty, T. Sheddon and D. Holder.
The Secretary, Com. J. Robertson moved: -
"That the credentials be received and the delegates welcomed".
Com. S. Walsh seconded.
CARRIED
APOLOGIES
Apologies were received and accepted for: - S. Moait, M. Thistlethwaite, B. Unsworth and D. St Clair.
The Secretary, Com. J. Robertson moved:-
"That the apologies be received and accepted".
Com. M. Stuart seconded.
CARRIED
SUSPENSION OF STANDING ORDERS
The Secretary, Com. J. Robertson, moved a Suspension of Standing Orders to allow the Premier of New South Wales, Hon. Morris Iemma to address the meeting
Com. B. Holmes seconded.
CARRIED
The Acting President, Com. B. Johnson welcomed the Premier of New South Wales, the Hon. Morris Iemma, MP and invited him to address the meeting.
"Delegates, friends - may I extend a warm and appreciative welcome to our honoured comrades from Japan.
My name is Morris Iemma - Membership number M1639142 of the United Services Union.
I stand before you not just as Premier and Labor leader, but as a lifelong unionist, drawn here - as you are - by an unshakeable commitment to the role of trade unions in building a better and fairer Australia. Plenty of pundits have pronounced the last rites over the union movement. Plenty more are trying to hasten that fate.
However, last week gave a resounding rebuttal to the proposition that unions have no place in our national life - and I refer, of course, to the victory won for and by the James Hardie victims in that historic partnership with the union movement and the NSW Labor Government - without John Howard and Peter Debnam so much as lifting a finger.
Well we got there without them, and it proves what the labour movement can achieve when we stand proud and united together. It reinforces my absolute determination that while-ever a Labor government holds office in Macquarie Street, unions will have a central place in the social, political and economic life of NSW. While-ever a Labor government holds office in Macquarie Street, WorkChoices will be fought and hindered at every turn.
That includes today's announcement that we will intervene in the United Services Union case before the NSW Industrial Relations Commission to ensure all councils retain the right to opt out of Work Choices and protect the hard-won pay and conditions of the State's 50,000 council workers.
While-ever a Labor government holds office in Macquarie Street, the needs of the poor and vulnerable will have the first claim on our attention and resources. While-ever a Labor government holds office in Macquarie Street, our public services will be protected from Peter Debnam's reckless plan to slash and burn 20,000 public sector workers.
Delegates, earlier today I was at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital meeting some of the nurses who form the frontline of our health system, and they told me about their fears for our hospitals under Peter Debnam's reckless, radical agenda. They're scared that every administrative job that is cut will take them out of the frontline and put them behind a desk instead. That's what will happen under Peter Debnam's plan to cut what he so arrogantly calls "Sydney bureaucrats", conjuring up a false and distorted image of public service fat-cats that is simply a product of his own reckless imagination and his complete lack of experience as to how government actually works in NSW.
The reality is that these 20,000 jobs cuts will hit the people who quietly make our health system work, the staff who look after patient records and maintain the computers; pay nurses' wages; purchase hospital supplies; and manage patient appointments.
Every time you cut a position like that, you are dragging a nurse or a teacher or a cop off the frontline and consigning them back to the office - to paperwork - instead of the hands-on frontline work for which they are so well trained and motivated.
There could be no more thoughtless way to diminish and debase our public services than that, which only an out-of-touch elitist with absolutely no experience of public administration would even dare contemplate let alone make the centrepiece of his appeal to the voters of NSW.
Delegates, that's what this election is all about. Stopping those 20,000 job cuts, stopping our industrial relations system from being flogged-off to Canberra, stopping another cash grab from our child protection services and stopping a Debnam government tearing-up the industrial safety net we've worked so hard to build together. Not only will our landmark 1996 Industrial Relations Act be gutted, the one million employees we have saved from WorkChoices will be handed over to John Howard:
- the State public servants;
- the teenage workers under 18;
- the employees of State-owned corporations;
- the workers in companies who trade with the NSW Government;
- the workers and bosses under common law agreements.
All of them would be forced into WorkChoices and, by handing our constitutional powers over to Canberra like Jeff Kennett did, Peter Debnam would ensure those powers could never be regained by any future Labor government. They would be lost forever and that's what makes March 24 the fight of our lives - the one that must not get away.
Delegates, we have a number of enemies in this election. But the biggest enemy of all is complacency - because this is not a shoo-in, not a done deal, and anyone who thinks that is just playing into the hands of Peter Debnam, John Howard and the Liberal Party. That means fighting with every ounce of our strength from now until 6pm on polling day - because Labor hasn't lost a State election since 1997, and none of us want NSW to be the first.
Of course, John Howard does - and, delegates, it's our job to deny him the satisfaction. More importantly, it's our job to make sure working families have the protection of a Labor Government over the next four years because if we don't look after them, nobody will - and I didn't join the ALP and the union movement to let those people down.
Delegates, let me say it again so you are in no doubt about the task ahead:
This is our toughest battle in a decade, so let's make sure we get to the close of polling day certain that we have done everything in our power to achieve victory because this is a good fight - a just fight - a fight in which we must not, and cannot, risk defeat."
The Secretary, Com. Robertson thanked Premier Iemma for his address and in doing so he emphasised the importance of ensuring the return of the Iemma Government. He said that it was pleasing to see how much the Premier wants to win the election and get on with the job. Com. Robertson said the union movement must not become complacent as the election was still be won and there was a lot of work to do.
The Secretary also reminded delegates of how important it was to send a message to the Federal Government about WorkChoices on March 24. Anything less than a clear Labor victory will mean the Howard Government will claim the result as a vote for WorkChoices.
In closing, the Secretary again thanked the Premier and assured him of the union movement's ongoing support for their campaign.
RESUMPTION OF STANDING ORDERS
The Secretary, Com. J. Robertson moved: -
"A resumption of standing orders."
Com. A. Ferguson seconded
CARRIED
AGENDA
The Secretary Com. J. Roberson moved the Annual General Meeting Agenda: -
1. Secretary's Report
2. Auditors Report
3. Annual Balance Sheet (consolidated)
4. Appointments of Auditors
5. Trades Hall Report
6. Amendment of the Rules
The Secretary Com. J. Robertson moved: -
"That the agenda be received".
Com. T. Ayres seconded.
CARRIED
SECRETARY'S REPORT
The Secretary com. J. Robertson presented the 2006 Annual Report of Unions NSW to the meeting which was circulated to delegates and a copy of which is attached to these minutes.
The Secretary Com. J. Robertson moved: -
"That the report be received".
Com. B. Riordan seconded.
CARRIED
The Secretary Com. J. Robertson moved: -
"That the report be adopted".
Com. A. Ferguson seconded.
CARRIED
AUDITOR'S REPORT
The Secretary Com. J. Robertson presented to the meeting the Auditor's Financial Report for the Labor Council's Management Fund, Property Account, Currawong Holiday Resort, Wireless Committee, Funeral Fund, NSW Narrowcasts Pty Ltd, Trades Hall Association Ltd for the year end 30th June 2006, which was distributed to all delegates and a copy of which is attached to these minutes.
The Secretary Com. J. Robertson moved: -
"That the report be received".
Com. A. Owens seconded.
CARRIED
The Secretary Com. J. Robertson moved: -
"That the report be adopted".
Com. M. Issanchon seconded.
CARRIED
ANNUAL BALANCE SHEET
The Secretary Com. J. Robertson presented the Annual Balance Sheet to the meeting, which had been circulated to delegates and a copy of which is attached to these minutes.
The Secretary Com. J. Robertson moved: -
"That the report be received".
Com. J. Cahill seconded.
CARRIED
The Secretary Com. J. Robertson moved: -
"That the Annual Balance Sheet be adopted".
Com. M. Want seconded.
CARRIED
APPOINTMENT OF AUDITORS
The Secretary Com. J. Robertson, in accordance with Rule 13 moved: -
"That A. J. Williams & Co., Chartered Accountants, 2 Market Street, Sydney, NSW be appointed Auditors for Unions NSW".
Com. P. Remfrey seconded.
CARRIED
TRADES HALL REPORT
The Secretary Com. J. Robertson presented the Annual Trades Hall Report, a copy of which is contained in the Annual Report attached to these minutes.
The Secretary Com. J. Robertson moved: -
"That the report be received".
Com. D. Belan seconded.
CARRIED
The Secretary Com. J. Robertson moved: -
"That the report be adopted".
Com. M. O'Halloran seconded.
CARRIED
AMENDMENT TO THE RULES
The Secretary, Com. J. Robertson, in accordance with the notice given at the Unions NSW meeting on 7th December 2006 moved alterations to rules 2,3(c), 6(b), 12(c), 24(h), 29, 31, 32(b) and 39(a) as follows: -
Rule 2
Add the words "District Councils" after Regional Councils.
Rule 3 (c)
Delete and replace with "Shall have the power to prevent and settle, by conference or otherwise, any dispute between members of the Unions forming Unions NSW and any employer(s), and to endeavour to uphold the Rules of any Union which is affiliated to Unions NSW; failing which, to provide ways and means for the maintenance of the Union involved.
Rule 6(b)
Delete the words "From the February 2004 Annual Meeting" at the start of the paragraph.
Rule 12(c)
Subject to rule 44, the Trustees have the power under the direction of the Executive or Finance Committee to:
(i) hold and apply the assets referred to in rule 12(a) as they think fit, with the powers, discretions and authorities that they would have if they were the absolute owners of those assets, including the power to borrow money on the security of those assets or give a guarantee secured against those assets; and
(ii) borrow money, directly or indirectly, for the benefit of Unions NSW.
Renumber 12(c) and (d) to (d) and (e).
Rule 24(h)
Delete word "eight" and replace with "two" in line one.
Rule 29 - Organising Committee
Rename Organising & Campaigning Committee
Rule 31 - Annual Meeting
In the second line change "be" to "include".
Rule 32(b) - Special Meetings
(i) Delete the words "advertising in one or more newspapers and" in line one.
(ii) Delete and replace with "a circular sent to the address of each affiliate to Unions NSW."
Rule 39(a)
In the third line replace the word "fifteen" with "ten".
Com. S. Walsh seconded.
CARRIED
WELCOME TO FRATERANAL DELEGATES
The Acting President, Com. B. Johnson welcomed and introduced our fraternal delegates from Rengo Tokyo: -
• Brother Makoto Ninomiya, Vice President of Rengo Tokyo and President of UI ZENSEN (The Japanese Federation of Textile, Chemical, Food, Commercial, Service and General Workers' Unions) Tokyo Branch.
• Brother Isao Yamaguchi, Vice President of Rengo Tokyo, Tokyo Subway Workers' Union under SHISTETSU SOREN (General Federation of Private Railway & Bus Workers' Unions of Japan).
• Brother Numata Takashi, Chairman of Rengo Tokyo West North Regional Council and President of All Japan Prefectural and Municipal Workers' Union, Toshima Network
• Sister Misako Ohura, Member of the Women's Committee of Rengo Tokyo, Executive Committee Member of NTT Workers' Union, Tokyo Branch of Japan Federation of Telecommunications, Electronic Information and Allied Workers.
The Acting President, Com. B. Johnson invited the Delegation Leader, Brother Ninomiya to address delegates.
Brother Ninomiya gave the following address:
Mr. Vice President, Secretary, Delegates, Colleagues, Ladies& Gentlemen.
On behalf of Rengo Tokyo, I am very pleased to speak at your Annual General Meeting and I have heard that your organisation further strengthens and develops the workers' movement in NSW.
It is said in Japan that the economy has been showing signs of recovery across sectors for many years, from business to the household. It is hard to comprehend where exactly in Japanese society has come up with an understanding like this.
For 8 years, pay cuts for workers have been occurring, non-regular employees, part-time workers and the young who do not intend to work represent more than 30% of all employees. 85% of people are very concerned about the life after the retirement. Annual suicide is more than 30,000 seven years in a row. The government budget deficit including local exceeded to crucial record, about $78,000 per person.
This is the real Japan.
Who did it like this!
With the world's economy globalizing, market-oriented and competitive, the wealth gaps between a few winners, such as mega-banks and international corporations and a lot of losers are widening.
In many workplaces, polarization of work is becoming more and more extreme, with regular employees working very long hours and non-regular employees such as part-time, temporary and contracted workers.
So we are to defend and achieve the employment and the livelihoods of workers, through priority goals: the maintenance of the wage curve, building a social security system that gives workers a sense of security, eradication of unpaid overtime and the realization of equal treatment for part-time workers.
With the trend towards decreasing union membership, RENGO Tokyo has been implementing its "Building unions: Third Action Plan 21" and has achieved an increase in union membership of about 50,000 from 100 industrial unions. Almost all were part-time workers.
We at Rengo Union with the efforts of affiliates have been able to organize part-time workers and workers in small to medium sized companies.
As the one of Unions' activities, we give a helping hand to the victims of natural disasters. For example, we helped residents evacuate from Miyake Island when damaged by volcanic activities and they were looked after by union members and volunteers at the mainland until they returned to their home island.
This year we have the so-called the election year of unified local, mayor and governor and House of Councillors election. We closely support candidates from the Democratic Party who represent the opinions of working people in areas ranging from economic policy, tax reform, social security policy, employment and labor policy to gender equality and human rights, the environment, education and pensions and so on.
So we have to stop Liberal Democratic Party and change the government.
By using international links, the trade union movement will be strong to protect and campaign workers rights.
Rengo Tokyo continuously looks forwards to working with UNIONS NSW and revitalizing trade union movement.
I wish to conclude by thanking you and wishing you the very best of luck.
The Secretary, Com. J. Robertson, in thanking Brother Ninomiya said his speech reinforced the view that international links between trade unions remain important.
The Secretary said the impact of globalisation was evident through Brother Ninomiya highlighting the problems of insecure employment in Japan exactly as is happening here in Australia. Globalisation was removing workers rights everywhere he said.
In closing, the Secretary said it was a pleasure having the delegation here and wished them well for the rest of their stay.
SCROLLS OF HONOUR
The Secretary Com. J. Robertson presented the following delegates with their Scrolls of Honour: -
1. Vera Zaletel
Australian Workers Union
Recorded Media Industry Union of NSW
(Formerly Gramophone Record Industry Union)
The Secretary said Com. Zaletel had been a long standing member of the Gramophone Record Industry Union.
The Secretary said she had held the position of Honorary President from 2000 until 7th December 2006 and had been made a Life Member on 1st October 2002.
2. Craig Mason
Australian Workers Union
TAPS & Gas Industry Branch
The Secretary said Com. Mason had been a member of the AWU, TAPS & Gas Industry Branch for over 16 years.
The Secretary said he has been on the Committee of the Gas Employees Union since May 2001, Honorary Vice President, AWU TAPS & Gas Industry Branch Executive from March 2005 and is also Honorary Branch President, NSW Sub Branch, AWU TAPS & Gas Industry Branch.
3. Jeffrey Raymond Byrne
Australian Workers Union
TAPS & Gas Industry Branch
(Formerly AWU Gas Industry Branch
and Gas Industry Salaried Officers Federation)
The Secretary said Com. Byrne had joined the union in February 1958.
The Secretary said Com. Byrne has been Assistant Branch Secretary, AWU TAPS Branch from 25 July 1984 to 30th June 2003 and Secretary of the Recorded Media Industry Union from 3rd September 1999 to 30th June 2003.
Com. Byrne currently holds the positions of Honorary Secretary, Gas Industry Salaried Officers' Federation NSW; Honorary Secretary, Gas Employees Union; Honorary Secretary, Association of Foreman & Supervisors and has been a Part-time Organiser since 3rd December 2004.
Com. Byrne was made a Life Member of the Union in May 2003.
4. Vern Philpott
Construction Forestry Mining & Energy Union
Construction & General Division
NSW Divisional Branch
The Secretary said Com. Philpott joined the Union in 1947 after arriving from Canada. He joined the Federated Engine Drivers & Firemen's Association in that year in Victoria and worked at the Yallourn Powerhouse. In 1949 after moving to NSW he worked in the Pyrmont Powerhouse, Bunnerong Powerhouse and at the Kurnell Oil Refinery. Com. Philpott has been a greatly respected elected delegate throughout most of his working life. For a short time he worked in the FEDFA union office as part of the Green Ban campaign. Com. Philpott continues to be the main force driving the CFMEU Retired Members Association and is still active in every campaign run by the CFMEU, AMWU and the Maritime Union.
5. Jennifer Leete
NSW Teachers Federation
The Secretary said Com. Leete has been an active member of the Federation since the 1970s. From 1979 to 1987she was the Federation Representative at MacKellar Girls High School. From 1980 to 1984 she was Secretary of the Manly Teachers Association and from 1985 to 1988 she was President of that Association. From 1980 - 89 Com. Leete was a Member of the Council, NSW Teachers Federation. In 1989 she became an Organiser of the Federation and in 1998 she became Deputy President, a position she held until 2005.
Com. Leete was an Executive Member of Unions NSW from 2003 - 2005 she was also a member of the Executive of the Australian Education from 2000 - 2005.
She was a delegate from the AEU to ACTU Congresses in 1997, 2000 and 2003.
In 2006 Com. Leete was made a Life Member of both the NSW Teachers and the AEU.
6. Barry Johnson
NSW Teachers Federation
The Secretary said Com. Johnson joined the Union in 1965 as a trainee teacher.
He has held many honorary roles including school Federation Representative, local association executive member, state Councillor and Annual Conference delegate.
In 1982 he was elected as a Country Organiser, became Assistant General Secretary (Schools) in 1991 and General Secretary from 2002 until his retirement in July 2006.
Com. Johnson, whilst a staunch advocate for the Federation, has also been equally committed to the need for unity in the union movement. He was a delegate to Newcastle Trades Hall Council for nine years and to Unions NSW for the last 17 years, eight as a member of the Executive including the last six years as a Vice President.
During the waterfront dispute, Com. Johnson coordinated and participated in the Federation's activities in support of the MUA at Port Botany.
He produced the Unions NSW Sky Channel meeting from Sydney Town Hall during the workers compensation dispute in 2001. The effectiveness of this medium has seen its use again in New South Wales and nationally as part of the current fight against Howard's WorkChoices legislation.
Com. Johnson assisted in the negotiations that led to the current working arrangements between Unions NSW and the South Coast Labour Council.
He is particularly proud of his role in helping Unions NSW express its opposition against the war in Iraq.
In addition to his work with the Federation and Unions NSW, Com. Johnson has been the Public Officer of Teachers Federation Health Ltd, and is currently a Director of Stewart House and the Teachers Club.
AGM ADJOURNED AT 7: 16 PM
Acting President:____________________________________
About Unions NSW
