Meeting held : 28 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 28TH 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: - J. Robertson [Secretary] M. Lennon [Assistant Secretary],
M. Thistlethwaite, 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. R. Collison seconded.
CARRIED
APOLOGIES:
Apologies were received and accepted for: - S. Moait, C. Christodoulou, G. Derrick, C. Game, N. Lewocki, B. Parker, B. Kruse, B. Holmes, M. O'Halloran.
The Secretary, Com. J. Robertson moved: -
"That the apologies be received and accepted".
Com. M. Want seconded.
CARRIED
GUEST SPEAKER:
The Acting President, Com. B. Johnson, introduced Mr Malainin Lakhal from Western Sahara who was brought to Australia by the Australia Western Sahara Association and the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance.
Com. Lakhal thanked unions for their support for the people of the Western Sahara. He reminded delegates that the Western Sahara has been occupied by Morocco for 32 years. He said the United Nations has resolved many times that the people of the Western Sahara should have the right to self-determination.
Com. Lakhal said that in the occupied areas the situation is bad. Moroccan settlers get the jobs while Saharawis are denied basic rights. Trade unions are not allowed and industrial action or strikes lead to losing jobs, imprisonment and torture. Saharawi workers basically have no rights at all.
Com Lakhal said that the United Nations needs to organise the referendum which has been obstructed and delayed by Morocco.
In closing, Com. Lakhal asked delegates to:-
• Write to the Federal Government and urge them to support the Saharawi right to self-determination and the organisation of a speedy referendum;
• Encourage the ACTU and the Labor Party to continue to extend support to the Saharawi cause;
• Support and join the Australia Western Sahara Association;
• Support APHEDA's Western Sahara projects; and
• Urge Australian companies to stop the exploitation of Western Sahara phosphate.
In thanking Com. Lakhal, the Secretary said that everybody has the right to self-determination. He said Unions NSW would be pressing the issue with the present government and in particular with a new Labor government.
EXECUTIVE BUSINESS
CORRESPONDENCE:
1. From the New South Wales Local Government, Clerical, Administrative, Energy, Airlines & Utilities Union:- supporting Malainin Lakhal, Secretary of the Saharawi Journalists' and Writers' Union, as part of his Australian speaking tour. The Union said that they strongly supported the Saharawi people in their struggle for self-determination. The USU requested that the following motion be supported:-
"Unions NSW expresses their support and solidarity with the Saharawi people in their struggle for freedom and independence. Unions NSW, strongly condemns the gross violations of human rights carried out by the Moroccan regime against Saharawis, including students, workers and human rights activists in the occupied areas.
Unions NSW urges affiliates to extend assistance to the independence movement the Polisario Front through coordinated efforts of the Trade Union movement.
Further Unions NSW formally requests the ACTU and the Federal Labor Party to press the Federal Government to vote at the UN Fourth Committee and General Assembly in favour of resolutions supporting the right of the Saharawi people to self-determination and to ask Australian companies to put an end to the illegal exploitation of Western Sahara natural resources through deals made with Morocco."
Com. J. Robertson moved the Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and Unions NSW support the motion on Western Sahara as contained in the correspondence."
Com. M. Want seconded the resolution.
CARRIED
2. From the Liquor, Hositality & Miscellaneous Union, Liquor & Hospitality Division, New South Wales Branch:- advising Unions NSW that at their Committee of Management meeting held on 5th June 2007 John Hawker, Secretary of the LHMU Liquor & Hospitality Division was endorsed as their Club Industry Advisory Council (C.I.A.C.) representative for a two year period commencing 1 July 2007. The Union advised that it was also recommended that Unions NSW nominate Assistant Secretary, Tara Moriarty as their representative on the Club Industry Advisory Council (C.I.A.C.) for a two year period commencing 1 July 2007.
Com. J. Robertson moved the Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and Unions NSW nominate Tara Moriarty as its representative on the Club Industry Advisory Council."
Com. R. Collison seconded the resolution.
CARRIED
3. From the Construction, Forestry, Mining & Energy Union, Construction & General Division, New South Wales Branch: -advising Unions NSW of a recent delegation of CFMEU/MUA officials to China as guests of the ACFTU were closely acquainted with the policy struggle occurring in China regarding the passage of new improved labour laws. The Union said that recently there had been media reports in Australia about the new Labour Contract Laws that were now expected to shortly go before the People's Congress. A third draft was now publicly available after the second draft was subject to widespread public debate when nearly 200,000 submissions were received from individuals and organisations. The CFMEU requested that Unions NSW send a letter of support in respect of the new labour laws to His Excellency, Mr Zhang Junsai, Ambassador for the People's Republic of China in Australia.
Com. J. Robertson moved the Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and Unions NSW endorse the international union campaign of support for China's new labour laws.
Further, Unions NSW advise both the Chinese Government and the Chinese Trade Union movement of its support as requested."
Com. A. Ferguson seconded and spoke to the resolution.
CARRIED
4. From the New South Wales Local Government, Clerical Administrative, Energy, Airlines & Utilities Union:- regarding the release this week of the Australian Work and Life Index 2007 by the Centre for Work and Life at the university of South Australia. The Union said that amongst other things the index showed that 60.7% of those surveyed thought that work kept them away from time spent with family and friends; that just under 50% felt that work impacted on their ability to build community connections; and 40% of those surveyed worked more hours than they wanted to. They said that these statistics revealed that many Australian workers did not have control of their working lives and that they also confirmed the objectives of Mr Howard's WorkChoices legislation. Further, it confirmed that WorkChoices gave absolute control to the employer and was a timely reminder of why the fight against WorkChoices should be continued. The Union requested that a summary of the Index be circulated to affiliates.
Com. J. Robertson moved the Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and a summary of the Australian Work and Life Index 2007 be circulated to affiliates as requested."
Com. M. Want seconded the resolution.
CARRIED
REPORTS
1. Cochlear Dispute
The Secretary, Com. J. Robertson reported on the dispute at the Cochlear site at Lane Cove. Com. Robertson said that workers at the plant were being denied the right to choose to be represented by their union and that the overwhelming majority of the 300 mainly female migrant workers had indicated their preference to be represented by the AMWU during wage negotiations. Despite this it is alleged that on Friday 29th June Cochlear would be forcing these workers to vote on a non-union agreement which would remove family-friendly provisions. Com. Robertson said that the workers had already voted against the company's non-union agreement once, however Cochlear were demanding a second vote to exclude unions. He said that the example of Cochlear workers clearly showed how the Prime Minister's WorkChoices laws actually prevented choice in the workplace and that these workers had clearly stated their choice for union representation. These workers are extremely vulnerable as many speak limited English and had jointed the union so that their rights at work would be protected.
Com. J. Robertson moved:-
"That the report be received and noted."
Com. R. Fortescue seconded.
CARRIED
2. Campaign Report
The Secretary, Com. J. Robertson reported that the flyer encouraging people to become active in the Rights At Work Campaign which was to accompany the petition was now available and would be distributed by Unions NSW officers.
Com. J. Robertson moved:-
"That the report be received and noted."
Com. G. Dwyer seconded.
CARRIED
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
1. The North Sydney & Lower North Shore Your Rights at Work Group Present MIKE BAILEY -Labor Candidate for North Sydney
Former ABC TV Weatherman Mike Bailey is challenging the IR Minister himself, Joe Hockey for the North Sydney Seat. Mike has
indicated that IR and the environment are top issues for voters in this election. COME ALONG, MEET MIKE, HEAR THE ISSUES!
Tuesday 10th July, Neutral Bay Community Centre, 6PM
190 Military Rd, Neutral Bay. 5.45 for 6pm (Upstairs Hall.
COUNCIL ADJOURNED AT 6: 30PM
Acting President:___________________________
About Unions NSW
