Meeting held : 01 November 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 1ST NOVEMBER 2007
IN THE TRADES HALL AUDITORIUM AT
4 GOULBURN STREET, SYDNEY, AT 6:05 PM
The Acting President Com. B. Johnson occupied the Chair.
PRESENT: - M. Lennon [Acting Secretary], A. Tattersall (Deputy Assistant Secretary).
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 Acting Secretary, Com. M. Lennon moved: -
"That the minutes as circulated be received".
Com. B. Holmes seconded.
CARRIED
The Acting Secretary, Com. M. Lennon moved: -
"That the minutes as circulated be adopted".
Com. M. Want seconded.
CARRIED
CREDENTIALS
From The Australian Workers' Union, Greater New South Wales Branch appointing: - L. Heaney in place of S. Bali.
The Acting Secretary, Com. M. Lennon moved: -
"That the credentials be received and the delegates welcomed".
Com. B. Tubner seconded.
CARRIED
APOLOGIES
Apologies were received and accepted for: - S. Moait, J. Robertson, C. Christodoulou, M. Thistlethwaite, A. Ferguson, C. Haig, W. Hickey, L. Hankinson.
The Acting Secretary, Com. M. Lennon moved: -
"That the apologies be received and accepted".
Com. C. Game seconded.
CARRIED
GUEST SPEAKER:
The Acting President, Com. B. Johnson introduced Com. John Johnson. Com. Johnson outlined details of the Rights@Work Raffle that he was conducting and encouraged affiliates to support it.
The Acting Secretary, Com. M. Lennon thanked Com. Johnson for his work with the raffle.
EXECUTIVE BUSINESS
CORRESPONDENCE
1. From the New South Wales Local Government, Clerical, Administrative, Energy, Airlines & Utilities Union:- regarding their delegate and executive member, Mark Gill who is currently employed by Eraring Energy, a state owned corporation and seconded to Connell Wagner, a private company. They said that Mark was previously employed by the Residual Business Management Corporation ("RBMC") and was one of the employees targeted for forced redundancy as a result of the privatisation of Pacific Power. The Union said that as a result of discussions and negotiations with the then Minister for Economic Reform, Michael Costa in late 2004 and early 2005, Mark had been given an option that either Eraring employ him on the condition that he be seconded to a private company who desired his skills and experience or his employment would be terminated with RBMC. Unfortunately Mark was the only RBMC member who was treated this way; others were directly employed by the SOC's. They said that the power industry union members, unions and Unions NSW had run a very good campaign to avert a state wide industrial dispute to enable former RBMC staff to be employed and not face forced redundancy. The Union said that they had genuine concerns as during the last two and a half years Mark has not been treated fairly in his attempt to return to employment with Eraring and be treated as a normal employee.
Mark has currently applied for over 14 positions with Eraring without success. The Union said that they had written to and met with Michael Costa on 19 July 2007 to discuss their concerns. They said that in the course of the discussions a position was identified which Mark applied for. During the meeting, the Minister indicated that Mark would be fairly treated in his applications for employment in Eraring. Unfortunately this application was again unsuccessful. The Union said that they are concerned that personal commitments given by senior members of the NSW Government had not been followed through and that Mark Gill continued to suffer discrimination because of his role as an activist in the RMBC dispute.
Com. M. Lennon moved the Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and a meeting with the relevant Minister regarding the situation with Mark Gill be arranged as requested."
Com. B. Kruse seconded the resolution.
CARRIED
2. National Tertiary Education Union, NSW Branch:- seeking the support of Unions NSW at the Free Burma Rally which was being held at 12 Noon, 10th November 2007 at Sydney Town Hall. The Union said that the current situation in Burma, especially with respect to denial of freedom of speech, is of major concern to members of the NTEU. The Union advised that there would be two main items of focus at the rally. Firstly, the 2000 political prisoners who had been detained following the peaceful protests in Burma were from all walks of life, including monks, students, unionists and politicians. Trade Unionists in particular had been targeted during these arrests. Participants at the rally will be invited to participate in a symbolic activity highlighting the plight of political prisoners in Burma. Secondly, the Union said that the campaign would focus on the possible involvement of Australian agencies supporting the current military junta thereby benefiting the regime in Burma and that if this was occurring Australia could be complicit in Human Rights abuses. The NTEU requested that details of the rally be circulated to affiliates for their information.
Com. M. Lennon moved the Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and details of the Rally with attachments be circulated to affiliates for their information and support."
Com. C. Game seconded the resolution.
CARRIED
3. From the Textile, Clothing and Footwear Union, NSW Branch:- regarding recent disturbing developments concerning the purchase of workwear uniforms for NSW State Government instrumentalities. The union said that historically, many of these workwear uniforms had been produced (either in whole or in part) by their members in this state. The TCFUA said that in recent times there had been a worrying trend towards encouraging procurement bureaucrats to buy cheap imported workwear gear in substitution for the local, Australian-made products which previously had been purchased. They said the one particularly outrageous example of the trend concerned the recent multi-million dollar contract for health services uniforms - a contract that now completely relies upon the purchase of imported workwear, at the expense of local textile clothing and footwear (TCF) jobs. The Union advised that it had just come to their attention that tenders for the procurement of NSW fire brigades protective workwear will close within less than a week, while the corresponding contract for the purchase of NSW police uniforms could be settled at any time. They said that given that these imminent procurement decisions would gravely impact upon the current jobs of their members, Unions NSW convene an urgent meeting between their union and fellow affiliates the NSW Fire Brigade Employees Union and the Police Association of NSW. The purpose of the meeting would be to prepare an immediate joint presentation to the NSW State Government - both the Minister for Commerce and the Treasurer - in order to defend their members' existing jobs. The TCFUA advised that Peter Remfrey, Secretary of the Police Association and Chris Winsor, President of the United Fire Fighters Union had today met with bureaucrats in the Minister for Commerce's office and it was made quite clear to them that their role wasn't to worry about protecting Australian jobs, their role was only to worry about quality and price and if there was an issue of jobs then we should talk to the Premier and the Treasurer.
Com. M. Lennon moved the Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and Unions NSW seek an urgent meeting with the Premier regarding the procurement decisions of the State Government for new uniforms for our emergency workers."
Com. B. Tubner seconded the resolution.
CARRIED
4. From the Shop, Distributive & allied Employees' Association, NSW Branch:- advising Unions NSW and affiliates of an SDA NSW Branch variation of the successful shooting gallery Your Rights At Work Campaign flyer. The Union said that their variation simply takes the effective sitting ducks image and inserts the faces of 5 SDA members who have been victims of the radical WorkChoices laws. They said that these were real people telling their stories of how their rights at work had been extinguished under the unfair and unbalanced WorkChoices laws. The Union requested that one or two of these employees be invited to address tonight's meeting about how these laws had adversely affected them and to invite affiliates to new this new flyer in the campaign.
Com. M. Lennon moved the Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and the SDA be congratulated on their new anti-WorkChoices flyer and that their members be invited to address Unions NSW meeting this evening.
Further, affiliates be advised of the invitation of the SDA for them to use this flyer at their discretion."
Com. G. Dwyer seconded the resolution.
CARRIED
5. From the Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union, NSW Branch:- advising Unions NSW of the launch today by the Cochlear workers of a television advertisement in Mandarin which is to be show on SBS. The Union said that the advertisement was part of the campaign on real workers, real lives addressing the plight of workers under laws that gave all power to the employer in contract bargaining. The AMWU thanked Unions NSW for their support in this campaign, and to thank union affiliates who turned out today and yesterday to support the Cochlear workers, particularly the NSW Fire Brigade Employees Union.
Com. M. Lennon moved the Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and Unions NSW congratulate Cochlear workers on the launch of the advertisement in Mandarin in support of their campaign.
Further, the thanks of the AMWU be forwarded to affiliates, in particular the FBEU."
Com. B. Holmes seconded.
CARRIED
6. From the Maritime Union of Australia, Sydney Branch:- advising Unions NSW that Bret Walker SC had today handed down his final report from the Special Commission of Inquiry Into the Sydney Ferries Corporation. They said that as the Report is 4 30 plus pages long they had not yet undertaken a fully comprehensive analysis of this lengthy document. The Union said they were supportive of the elements of the report which advocates a role for public ownership and were also committed to working with all industry
stakeholders to ensure a more functional industrial relations environment at Sydney Ferries. They said the MUA was committed to the streamlining of enterprise agreements and the formation of single bargaining units for that purpose and that their members at Sydney Ferries were committed to ensuring Sydney Ferries developed into a world class public transport system. The Union said they disagreed that better outcomes for Sydney Ferries Corporation can be delivered via the onset of private sector involvement. The MUA of Australia remains totally opposed to any form of privatisation of Public Private Partnership of Sydney Ferries and are committed to an ongoing campaign to raise public awareness and support in opposing privatisation of this iconic public transport system. They said they were also concerned about the potential removal of upper Parramatta River routes and see an inevitable filling of that gap by non-union operators such as Captain Cook Cruises which have recently issued AWAs to their workforce. The Union said they were committed to involvement in the ongoing consultative process and would provide submissions in relation to the various recommendations of the Walker Report. They would also continue to lobby government to maintain Sydney Ferries in public ownership. The MUA said that Public Transport services needed to be integrated and the link between ferries, buses and rail was extremely important and could provide government with a very effective mechanism in getting cars off the road and contributing positively to environmental outcomes and climate change. The Union sought the ongoing support of Unions NSW in opposing the privatisation of Sydney Ferries and their continued assistance with the campaign to win community support for the retention and development of public transport services to the people of Sydney.
Com. M. Lennon moved the Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and Unions NSW in noting the recommendations of the Walker Inquiry reaffirms its opposition to the privatisation of Sydney Ferries and will seek meetings with both Bret Walker and the Minister for Transport regarding our position on the future of Sydney Ferries."
Com. A. Claasens seconded the resolution.
CARRIED
REPORTS
1. Campaign Report
a) Petitions
The Acting Secretary, Com. M. Lennon said that the petition signing program was going well and encouraged affiliates to continue their efforts.
b) Movember
The Acting Secretary, Com. M. Lennon reported on Movember. He informed delegates that all of the male staff at Unions NSW would be taking part and asked delegates to support the campaign.
Com. M. Lennon moved:-
"That the report be received and noted."
Com. G. Derrick seconded the resolution.
CARRIED
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
1. Unions NSW Executive and General Meetings
The Acting Secretary, Com. M. Lennon advised that there would be
NO Unions NSW Executive or General Meetings on Thursday, 8th , Thursday 15th or Thursday 22nd November 2007 due to the upcoming Federal Election. Meetings will reconvene on Thursday, 29th November 2007
COUNCIL ADJOURNED AT 6: 49PM
Acting President:____________________________________
About Unions NSW
