Meeting held : 26 July 2007
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 26TH JULY 2007
IN THE TRADES HALL AUDITORIUM
AT 4 GOULBURN STREET, SYDNEY, AT 6:06 PM
The President Com. S. Moait occupied the Chair.
PRESENT: - M. Lennon [Acting Secretary], C. Christodoulou,
M. Thistlethwaite, A. Peters (Deputy Assistant Secretaries).
OPENING
OF THE
MEETING:- The President, Com. S. Moait 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 Acting Secretary, Com. M. Lennon moved:-
"That the minutes as circulated be received".
Com. B. Tubner seconded.
CARRIED
The Acting Secretary, Com. M. Lennon moved:-
"That the minutes as circulated be adopted".
Com. G. Derrick seconded.
CARRIED
CREDENTIALS:
From The Textile, Clothing & Footwear Union of Australia, NSW Branch appointing:- H. McNabb in place of P. Lane.
The Acting Secretary, Com. M. Lennon moved: -
"That the credentials be received and the delegates welcomed".
Com. M. Stuart seconded.
CARRIED
APOLOGIES
Apologies were received and accepted for: - J. Robertson, A. Claasens, M. O'Halloran, B. Smith, B. Fitzpatrick, F. Barnes and V. Higgins, J. Kiejda, B. Holmes.
The Acting Secretary, Com. M. Lennon moved: -
"That the apologies be received and accepted".
Com. A. Ferguson seconded.
CARRIED
GUEST SPEAKER:
The President, Com. S. Moait, introduced Bruce McCleod and Joan Day from CRUMA and invited them to address delegates. Com. McLeod thanked delegates for the opportunity to speak. He advised delegates that CRUMA met once a month at the PSA, 160 Clarence Street, Sydney. He said that because of union amalgamations CRUMA's numbers and finances were down. He said retired unionists need to become more active at this time when workers are under attack from John Howard's IR laws. He said that more unions need to affiliate to CRUMA whose aim is to get a single voice for retired people. Com. McLeod concluded by telling delegates the CRUMA saying is "We might have retired from work but not from the fight".
Com. Day also spoke in support of the work of CRUMA and the need to get retired members more organised.
The Acting Secretary, Com. M. Lennon thanked Com. McLeod and Com. Day for their address. He said that CRUMA is playing a key role not only in the fight against WorkChoices but in addressing the wider issues facing working people in NSW. He said that Unions NSW would encourage unions to affiliate to CRUMA.
EXECUTIVE BUSINESS
CORRESPONDENCE
1. From the Coalition for NSW Planning Reform: inviting Unions NSW to join the Coalition for NSW Planning Reform calling on the NSW Government to commit to and implement a new round of development assessment (DA) reform. The Coalition currently comprises the Planning Institute of Australia, Property Council of Australia, Royal Australian Institute of Architects, Sydney Chamber of Commerce and Urban Development Institute of Australia (NSW) who said they would welcome the expertise, credibility and enthusiasm of Unions NSW to help lobby for much needed reform of the DA system. The Coalition said that they believe there is a dire need for DA reform and that the NSW Government had already indicated that they intended to adopt a new DA reform agenda. The Coalition said they were committed to making a rational contribution to the DA reform debate and that its purpose was to ensure that the reform agenda was well-considered, comprehensive and addressed the critical issues.
Com. M. Lennon moved the Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and Unions NSW liaise with relevant unions to determine its position on reform of the development process before responding to the correspondence."
Com. S. Bali seconded the resolution.
CARRIED
2. From the New South Wales Local Government, Clerical, Administrative, Energy, Airlines & Utilities Union:- regarding the possibility that the new Federal Government's advertising in support of WorkChoices is misleading. The union said that in particular the ads directed at those under 18 years where they say that those under 18 years "must have their workplace agreement checked and signed by a parent or guardian" appeared to be incorrect. They said that Section 340 of the WorkChoices Act says that if the person is under 18 years of age then the AWA should be signed and dated by an appropriate person (such as a parent or guardian of the employee). The only restrictions are that they are not the employer and are over 18. The union said that the government is either deliberately misleading people or is unaware of the provisions of their own Act. The union requested Unions NSW to pursue the matter and seek that the government correct the statements made in its own advertising if proven to be incorrect.
Com. M. Lennon moved the Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and Unions NSW check whether the advertisement in question is correct and if not refer the matter to the Broadcasting Authority."
Com. B. Kruse seconded the resolution.
CARRIED
3. From the NSW Teachers Federation:- requesting the support of Unions NSW in the Federation's efforts to expand the range of member investment options within both the First State Super and State Authorities Superannuation Schemes so that they include a socially responsible/ethical investment option/s. The Federation said that First State Super was the default fund covering NSW public sector employees who receive the Superannuation Guarantee and the State Authorities Superannuation Scheme was a closed public sector superannuation fund. The Union said that many industry funds now provide investment choice for their members which included one or more socially responsible/ethical investment options. Consistent with such arrangements, the Federation seeks to have a socially responsible/ethical investment option/s extended to NSW public sector funds where appropriate.
Com. M. Lennon moved the Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and Unions NSW write to both the First State Super and SASS regarding the issue of socially responsible/ethical investment options being provided by Public Sector Funds."
Com. J. Lemaire seconded the resolution.
CARRIED
4. From the New South Wales Local Government, Clerical, Administrative, Energy, Airlines & Utilities:- advising Unions NSW that following recent discussions with Church Groups and a subsequent meeting of the Clerical and Administrative Branch they adopted the following:
"The Branch expresses grave concern that Rev. Graham Guy was unable to accept an offer of Employment by Stellar Management for a position because the A.W.A. demanded he be available 7 days a week, between the hours of 6.00am - 12a.m (midnight).
Further Rev. Guy had religious obligations and therefore he could not sign the A.W.A."
The Union called on Unions NSW to determine a policy which ensures religious and ceremonial obligations could be observed without attracting the threat of employment opportunity.
Com. M. Lennon moved the Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and Unions NSW seek to draft a policy that allows people the right to worship without threatening employment."
Com. M Want seconded the resolution.
.
CARRIED
REPORTS
1. Campaign Report
American Minimum Wage Tour 2007
The Acting Secretary, Com. M. Lennon reported that the tour of Australia by a group of US minimum wage workers had commenced and that they would be in Sydney next week and would address delegates at next Thursday's meeting.
Com. M. Lennon moved:-
"That the report be received and noted."
Com. G. Dwyer seconded.
CARRIED
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
1. Parramatta YR@W Group
The Parramatta YR@W Group will be leafleting Seven Hills Station on Tuesday 31st July
6.30a.m. - 8.00a.m.
For further information contact Michael Hehir on 0421 117 110 or email braadie@iprimus.com.au
2. ALP Fundraising Dinner for Labor Candidates
in Hughes And Cook
An ALP Fundraising Dinner for Greg Holland, Labor Candidate for Hughes and Mark Buttigieg, Labor Candidate for Cook
Tuesday, 31st July 2007 7pm for 7.30pm
Sutherland District Trade Union Club
The Kingsway, Gymea.
$45 per ticket. Reservations are essential
For further information contact Anne Nicholls on 9520 8924 or 0409 605 993 or Email: annelarrie@bigpond.com.au
3. Liverpool YR@W Committee
Next YR@W Liverpool Committee Meeting will be held on
Tuesday, 14th August, 2007
7.30pm at Wattle Grove Youth Centre, Australis Avenue
For further information contact Chip Eling on 0419 288 878 or Email: chip.eling@amwu.asn.au.
4. Sutherland Shire YR@W Community Group
Federal Election Campaign Launch
Sutherland District Trade Union Club (Tradies
57 Manchester Road, The Kingsway, Gymea.
Wednesday, 15th August 2007 at 7.30p.m.
Guest Speaker: John Robertson, Secretary, Union NSW
Greg Holland, Labor Candidate for Hughes &
David Shoebridge, Greens Candidate NSW Senate.
COUNCIL ADJOURNED AT 6: 30PM
President:____________________________________
About Unions NSW
