Meeting held : 17 May 2007
Chair of Meeting: The Acting President, Comrade Barry Johnson
Location of the meeting : Trades Hall Auditorium, 4 Goulburn St Sydney
UNIONS NSW MEETING MINUTES
MEETING HELD THURSDAY 17TH MAY 2007
IN THE TRADES HALL AUDITORIUM
AT 4 GOULBURN STREET, SYDNEY, AT 6:04 PM
The Acting President Com. B. Johnson occupied the Chair.
PRESENT J. Robertson (Secretary), M. Lennon (Assistant Secretary),
C. Christodoulou, A. Peters (Deputy Assistant Secretaries).
OPENING OF THE MEETING
The Acting President, Com. B. Johnson, opened the meeting by recognising the traditional owners of the land on which the meeting was being held, the Gadigal People of the Eora Nation.
MINUTES The Secretary, Com. J. Robertson, moved: -
"That the minutes as circulated be received".
Com. F. Barnes seconded.
CARRIED
The Secretary, Com. J. Robertson, moved: -
"That the minutes as circulated be adopted".
Com. B. Parker seconded.
CARRIED
CREDENTIALS
For tonight's meeting:
From The Textile Clothing & Footwear Union of Australia appointing:- H. McNabb in place of P. Lane and H. Nguyen in place of B. Tubner.
For the ensuing year:
From The New South Wales Local Government, Clerical, Administrative, Energy, Airlines & Utilities Union appointing:- B. Kruse, G. McLean, P. Reid, G. Golledge, M. Wilson, L. Fraser, T. Tamplin, P. Kelly, M. Want, V. Higgins, M. Stuart, A. Neal and C. Young as delegates.
The Secretary, Com. J. Robertson, moved: -
"That the credentials be received and the delegates welcomed".
Com. G. Dwyer seconded.
CARRIED
APOLOGIES
Apologies were received and accepted for: - M. Stuart, A. Ferguson, N. Lewocki,
C. Game, B.Kruse, and M. Thistlethwaite.
QUESTION WITHOUT NOTICE
Com. B. Riordan asked the Secretary how the President's convalescence was progressing
In reply Com. J. Robertson said she was recovering well and it was expected that she would be able to resume her role in early July.
EXECUTIVE BUSINESS
CORRESPONDENCE
1. From the NSW Teachers Federation: -. Advising that today is Public Education Day, which is a day on which schools and colleges can showcase and celebrate with communities the achievements of our inclusive public education system. The Union said that underpinned by the values of tolerance, acceptance, the celebration of diversity and the pursuit of excellence for all, public education represents the quintessential Australian value of a fair go for all. The Union went on to say that in this Federal election year the day takes on additional meaning and will provide an opportunity to highlight and mobilise supporters to pursue the Federation's campaign objectives and demands, which include: a priority commitment to the provision of the highest quality public education and training; and a significant increase in funding and resourcing for public schools and TAFE. The union also said the Howard Government's record in public education has been disastrous and the Federal Opposition must commit to the priority role of public education. The Union also drew attention to the release today of Dr Lyndsay Conners' research paper Can the Federal System Work Better for Australian Schools? It said the paper analyses commonwealth/state funding relations and comes at a time of ever increasing blame shifting between the State and Federal Governments. The Union concluded with the message that Public Education Day is a day to celebrate and a day to mobilise.
Com. J. Robertson moved the Executive Recommendation: -
"That the correspondence be received and Unions NSW note that today is Public Education Day and re-affirm its commitment to ensuring the community has access to the highest quality public education and training systems."
Com. F. Barnes seconded and spoke to the resolution.
CARRIED
2. From the North East and Border Trades & Labour Council (NEBTLC):- advising that it has sent an invitation to union Secretaries from both sides of the border inviting them to provide representatives at a meeting of unions on Wednesday 20th June, at 7.30 pm, at NEBTLC, Shop 8, 25 South St, Wodonga, Victoria. The NEBTLC said the purpose of the meeting is to seek commitment from trade unions to affiliate with a cross border trades and labour council covering the area of Southern Riverina NSW and North East Victoria. The NEBTLC attached copies of correspondence that had been sent to each union Secretary, which proposed that at the meeting union delegates from NSW and Victoria elect an interim Committee, whose purpose would be to recommend a constitution and a starting date for the operation of a cross border trades and labour council. The NEBTLC said minutes of the June 20 meeting will be sent to all relevant parties. In closing the NEBTLC thanked unions for support of the idea and invited comments or queries to be directed to its Secretary, Steve Felstead.
Com. J. Robertson moved the Executive Recommendation: -
"That the correspondence be received and that Unions NSW supports the proposal to form a cross border TLC centred on Albury-Wodonga, subject to the organisation having support from unions and being properly resourced.
Consequently, Unions NSW encourages affiliates to attend the formation meeting of the TLC set down for 20th June 2007".
Com. B. Parker seconded the resolution.
CARRIED
3. From the Australian Workers Union:-.regarding misinformation concerning AWAs in the mining industry. The Union said it wanted to set the record straight as mining industry bosses have been spreading misleading propaganda and had attempted to pressure the Australian Labor Party to modify its stance on AWAs, which the Unions said had no place in the modern Australian economy. The Union said it had perused annual reports published by the global mining giant Rio Tinto and their analysis brings into doubt the company's statement that removal of AWAs will "destroy business value" and "limit employee opportunities to contribute to and benefit from business success" The Union quoted figures that showed that profit after tax has increased; the rate of tax has fallen; increased profits have resulted in increased dividends; and profit generated by employees have increased, even on the back of a shrinking workforce. Whilst acknowledging that the average employee wage per annum has increased by approximately $56,600 over the last 10 years, the Union said that this pales into insignificance when compared to the $2.2 million rise in the highest paid executive director's package over the same period and his additional lump sum pension entitlement of $15.9 million. The Unions said that this showed that employees have contributed to the business success but not benefited from it to the degree that executive managers and shareholders have. The Union said that evidence compiled by David Peetz, Professor of Industrial Relations at Griffith University had demonstrated that mine workers on individual contracts work longer hours and receive 6% less wages than those on collective agreements. Finally, the Union called on Unions NSW to support the Rudd Labor team in maintaining their announced industrial relations policy and not to waver on the eradication of AWAs.
Com. J. Robertson moved the Executive Recommendation: -
"That the correspondence be received and Unions NSW condemn the outcry by the mining industry over the abolition of AWAs as a beat up to protect their own interests.
Further, Unions NSW calls on the Rudd Labor Team to remain absolutely committed to its policy to abolish AWAs in the face of the campaign of opposition by the mining companies and big business".
Com. S. Bali seconded and spoke to the resolution.
CARRIED
4. From the New South Wales Local Government, Clerical, Administrative, Energy, Airlines & Utilities Union:-regarding the announcement this week of the pay packets of Macquarie Bank executives, with the top 13 executives taking home more than $200 million in total. The Union queried the justice of this when figures also recently released show that workers in retail and hospitality, where over a third of AWAs exist, have received a wage increase on average of 2.8% over the last year, barely keeping pace with inflation. The union said it is time for the boards of companies such as Macquarie Bank, who sign off on high executive packages, to insist that executive remuneration packages are in the best interests of all stakeholders of the organisation.
Com. J. Robertson moved the Executive Recommendation: -
"That the correspondence be received and Unions NSW add its voice to condemnation of the packages paid to Macquarie Bank executives
Further, Unions NSW calls on boards of public companies to ensure that executive remuneration packages are in keeping with community standards".
Com. M. Want seconded and spoke to the resolution.
Com G. Derrick also spoke to the resolution.
CARRIED
5. From the Electrical Trades Union of Australia, NSW Branch: -. Regarding reports in today's paper that the Federal Government is seeking to no longer use the name "WorkChoices" for its industrial relations legislation. The Union said that the legislation has never been about choice, as the union movement has argued since its inception, and that the working community knows this. The Union went on to say it is, in a way, a small victory in the wider campaign against WorkChoices and that the Government is fooling itself if it thinks simply by removing a name or changing a brand it is going to placate the community's concerns. The Union said that while the name may have changed the laws remain the same - harsh, unjust and unfair - and the government will pay before the year is out.
Com. J. Robertson moved the Executive Recommendation: -
"That the correspondence be received and that Unions NSW condemn the Government's decision to drop the name WorkChoices as a feeble attempt to try and deceive the community, which will fail miserably".
Com. B. Riordan seconded the resolution.
CARRIED
REPORTS
1. Campaign Report
McLeod's Daughters.
The Secretary announced that a video clip from the show, McLeod's Daughters, was to be played. The Secretary said the clip showed a scene from last night's show where a young worker is offered an AWA and threatened with the sack. The Secretary said the fact a scene like this would appear on a TV drama was clear evidence that the understanding of the harshness of WorkChoices had become part of the popular culture.
Com. J. Robertson moved:-
"That the report be noted and received."
Com. A. Casey seconded.
CARRIED
ANNOUNCEMENTS
1. Free Burma Public Rally
Hyde Park North (near Archibald Fountain)
Friday 25th May 2007, 12.00 noon
The rally is to commemorate the 17th anniversary of the election victory of the National League for Democracy to the Burmese parliament.
COUNCIL ADJOURNED AT 6.38 PM
Acting President: ____________________________________
About Unions NSW
