Meeting held : 21 June 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 21st JUNE 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: - 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. K. Sullivan seconded.
CARRIED
The Acting Secretary, Com. M. Lennon moved: -
"That the minutes as circulated be adopted".
Com. M. Want seconded.
CARRIED
APOLOGIES:
Apologies were received and accepted for: - J. Robertson, R. Collison, S. Moait, G. Dwyer, B. Smith and J. Diamond.
The Secretary, Com. M. Lennon moved: -
"That the apologies be received and accepted".
Com. M. Want seconded.
CARRIED
QUESTION WITHOUT NOTICE:
Com. F. Barnes asked was the Acting Secretary aware of comments made in Federal Parliament yesterday by the Hon. Jackie Kelly regarding the Nepean Hospital Your Rights At Work Campaign.
The Acting Secretary, Com. M. Lennon replied that this was a dirty trick by the Hon. Tony Abbott to discredit the Your Rights At Work Campaign. He said that over 3000 workers at Nepean Hospital had signed the petition and supported the Your Rights At Work Campaign.
MOTION OF CONDOLENCE:
The Acting Secretary, Com. M. Lennon advised it was his sad duty to report the passing this week of Comrade Arthur Roy Honeyman who was the State Secretary of the Australasian Society of Engineers (ASE) for 8 years and National President for 7 years.
Com. Lennon said that Roy's active union career spanned 3 decades beginning in the 1960s with the ASE Granville Sub-Branch. He said that during Roy's years as an ASE union official he also served as a delegate, executive member and financial trustee to the NSW Labor Council as well as a Director of 2KY.
Roy will be remembered fondly for his contribution in building the union movement's great heritage.
Com. F. Mossfield seconded and spoke.
CARRIED BY DELEGATES
OBSERVING A MINUTES SILENCE
GUEST SPEAKER:
The Acting President, Com. B. Johnson, introduced Mr Tim Brunero and invited him to address delegates. Com. Brunero spoke about a documentary he had made with APHEDA called "Hands Across the Water" which highlighted the work APHEDA was doing on the ground in East Timor, particularly in education and vocational training.
The Acting Secretary, Com. M. Lennon thanked Com. Brunero for his address and encouraged delegates to show the film to family and friends and seek support for APHEDA.
EXECUTIVE BUSINESS
CORRESPONDENCE
1. From the Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union, New South Wales Branch:- advising Unions NSW of their concern both for the long term job security of their members and the future of RailCorp maintenance. The Union said that their concern had arisen from increasing speculation that the NSW Government intends to privatise some, if not all of RailCorp's passenger and maintenance services. They said that their members have been subjected to persistent rumours and media commentary on the future of the state passenger rail service; specifically the complete privatisation of State rail management, incorporating the privatisation of rail depots, privatisation of the Tangarra train sets on a lease back arrangement with the State Government, privatisation of K and C train sets and the future replacement of two thirds of the remaining fleet under a PPP contract. The Union said that on June 7 their delegates at RailCorp met with the Acting
General Manager, Joe Camalleri, along with other senior RailCorp management and asked for a copy of RailCorp's current 'Five Year Business Plan' and for assurance of their long term job security. The delegates were told by management that there was no such Business Plan and that they could not offer long term job security beyond April 2009, coinciding with the expiring of current Schedule 1, 2 and 3 of the current maintenance contracts. They said that both the Minister and management had failed to provide a commitment to the ongoing provision of a publicly owned and maintained passenger rail system in NSW and that the persistent rumours and speculation about the future of RailCorp were having a significant impact upon the morale of their members who were seriously concerned about their future employment. The Union requested that Unions NSW seek an urgent meeting with the Minister for Transport in order to establish the Government's intentions.
Com. M. Lennon moved the Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and Unions NSW organise an urgent meeting with the Minister for Transport regarding the Government's intentions for the future of RailCorp's maintenance staff as requested."
Com. M. Hoban seconded the resolution.
Com. R. Wardroper spoke.
CARRIED
2. From the Communications Electrical Plumbing Union, Communications Division:- advising Unions NSW that they were pursuing a new Enterprise Agreement (EA) with Australia Post and that they had been negotiating with the company for 8 months. They said that whilst progress had been made in relation to a pay offer (12% pay rise over 3 years and a $500 bonus) there were serious threats to their member's award entitlements and job security and that Australia Post was refusing to allow the union to pursue legal channels to enforce the EA via the Australian Industrial Relations Commission. They said that Australia Post had orchestrated start times for employees so that they can avoid paying penalty rates, penalising some employees up to $105 per week. The Union said that in their view Australia Post were secretly using WorkChoices to privatise and contract out postal workers jobs by stealth and that recent announcements regarding the privatisation of Australia Post by the
Commonwealth Bank's investment and brokering arm CommSec were consistent with Australia Post management's strategies.
Com. M. Lennon moved the Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and Unions NSW supports the CEPU's EBA campaign for a better deal on wages and conditions in Australia Post and to oppose privatisation of postal services."
Com. M. Want seconded the resolution.
CARRIED
3. From the New South Wales Local Government, Clerical, Administrative, Energy, Airlines & Utilities Union:- advising Unions NSW of a significant development in wage negotiation in NSW Local Government. They said that over the last twelve months the USU had held negotiations with Sydney City Council with the intention of consolidating a number of pre-amalgamation and pre-boundary change industrial instruments and that the USU had continued these negotiations in good faith. However, they said that things turned sour when, at the conclusion of the bargaining round, council's lawyers and human resources representatives insisted that any consolidated agreement must be registered under the Federal Government's regressive WorkChoices regime. The Union said that on reviewing the situation they identified a raft of working rights and conditions that would be prohibited under WorkChoices and stripped out of the agreement. The Union immediately embarked on an organising and political campaign and over the last several weeks have held information sessions with employees and briefed City Councillors. The Union advised that as a result of their campaign it would appear that a coalition of Independent ALP and Green's councillors will vote on Monday night to support the rights at work of their employees. The Union said they anticipate that the City will reject the WorkChoices agreement option and instead vote to preserve current terms and conditions of employment, while paying a 4% wage increase. The Union advised that USU Sydney Branch members would be holding a rally in Town Hall Square on Monday 25th June commencing at 5p.m. to facilitate the smooth passage of the proposed motion and to support progressive councillors in standing up against WorkChoices. They said that the Sydney City agreement showed how workers and local communities could win against WorkChoices when a coalition of progressive interest groups joined together in opposing these extreme laws.
Com. M. Lennon moved the Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and Unions NSW reaffirm its support for the USU members employed by Sydney City Council in their campaign to achieve a fair and equitable outcome in their negotiations free from the WorkChoices legislation.
Further, that affiliates be advised of the rally on Monday, June 25th 2007 for their information and support."
Com. B. Kruse seconded and spoke to the resolution.
CARRIED
4. From the Rail Tram and Bus Union, NSW Branch:- advising Unions NSW of the overwhelming support from unions to the Your Rights At Work car which will be racing in the Kidney Kar Rally. They advised that the rally was an annual national fundraising event for Kidney Health Australia and that the event raises much needed funds for research, education, consumer participation and health service programs, in addition to supporting the Kidney Kids Program. This year's rally would be travelling from Darwin to Dubbo and in addition to participating in the rally the car would also be on display at various media events, shopping centres and community events leading up to the rally. The RTBU advised that a number of unions had already sponsored the car and their logos had been placed on the Your Rights At Work car. They said that there was still space on the rally car for any union who may be still thinking about getting involved ($500 donation) with such a great cause and also the promotion of the Your Rights At Work Campaign.
Com. M. Lennon moved the Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and Unions NSW congratulate the RTBU and other affiliates for their support of the Kidney Kar Rally Union car.
Further, Unions NSW advise other unions that sponsorship is still available and encourage them to support this worthy cause."
Com. L. Carruthers seconded the resolution.
CARRIED
REPORTS
1. Campaign Report
Com. M. Lennon launched the Rights At Work Petition Campaign. The petition is to Labor Leader, Kevin Rudd seeking assurances that the ALP will not water down its opposition to the Howard Government's WorkChoices legislation. The petition will be circulated at workplaces and in the community in the lead up to the Federal Election.
Com. M. Lennon moved:-
"That the report be received."
Com. D. Law seconded.
CARRIED
Com. M. Lennon moved:-
"That the report be adopted."
Com. V. Higgins seconded.
CARRIED
2. Returning Officer's Report
The Returning Officer, Com. V. Falconer advised that as no nominations for the positions of Finance Committee Member (1), Trades Hall Committee member (1) had been received at 4pm. Thursday, 21st June, 2007. He advised that the date for nominations for the abovementioned positions has been extended to 4pm Thursday, 28th June 2007. Should a ballot for the positions be necessary it will be conducted at the Trades Hall on Thursday, 5th July, 2007 between the hours of 4pm and 7pm.
Com. M. Lennon moved:-
"That the report be received and noted"
Com. B. Kruse seconded.
CARRIED
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
1. Union Choirs To Sing at Chippendale
Saturday 23rd June 2007
Duck and Swan Hotel, Chippendale from 8p.m.
Free Entry - Lots of good Union songs.
Three union choirs are combining to perform this Saturday. The choirs are: The Sydney Trade Union Choir, The Illawarra Union Singers and the Newcastle People's Chorus.
2. Bennelong Your Rights At Work Community Forum
Tuesday 26th June 2007
Ryde-East Leagues Club
117 Ryedale Road West Ryde
6.45pm for 7.00p.m
COUNCIL ADJOURNED AT 6: 45PM
Acting President:____________________________________
About Unions NSW
