Meeting held : 17 April 2008
Chair of Meeting: The Acting President, Com. Sally McManus
Location of the meeting : Trades Hall Auditorium, 4 Goulburn St Sydney
UNIONS NSW MEETING MINUTES
MEETING HELD THURSDAY 17TH APRIL 2008
IN THE TRADES HALL AUDITORIUM
AT 4 GOULBURN STREET, SYDNEY, AT 6:03 PM
The Acting President Com. S. McManus occupied the Chair.
PRESENT: - J. Robertson [Secretary] M. Lennon [Assistant Secretary],
C. Christodoulou, M. Thistlethwaite, A. Tattersall (Deputy Assistant Secretaries).
OPENING
OF THE
MEETING:- The Acting President, Com. S. McManus 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. N. Lang seconded.
CARRIED
The Secretary, Com. J. Robertson moved: -
"That the minutes as circulated be adopted".
Com. N. Allen seconded.
CARRIED
APOLOGIES:
Apologies were received and accepted for: - S. Moait, A. Kerslake, B. Holmes, J. Kiejda, F. Barnes, C. Game, M. Thomson, T. Ayres, E. Cody and A. Ferguson.
The Secretary, Com. J. Robertson moved: -
"That the apologies be received and accepted".
Com. M. Want seconded.
CARRIED
EXECUTIVE BUSINESS
CORRESPONDENCE:
1. From the Natural Resources Advisory Council New South Wales - advising Unions NSW that the current union representatives term on the Natural Resources Advisory Council (NRAC) would expire in July 2008. They requested that Unions NSW put forward nominations for appointment to NRAC.
Com. J. Robertson moved the Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and referred to a meeting of relevant affiliates to consider appropriate nominees to NRAC".
Com. N. Allen seconded the resolution.
CARRIED
2. From the Electrical Trades Union, New South Wales Branch:- regarding International Day of Mourning on 28th April 2008. They said that building unions should circulate the attached flyer to members regarding details of the day and actions that members could take. The ETU said the flyer was a useful tool in highlighting the reasons behind the day itself and actions that working people could take to enhance safety in their workplace. The union requested Unions NSW circulate a modified version of the flyer to affiliates for their use.
Com. J. Robertson moved the Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and a modified version of the attached Flyer be circulated to affiliates for their information."
Com. B. Riordan seconded and spoke to the resolution.
CARRIED
3. From the Workers' Compensation Dust Diseases Board of NSW:- advising Unions NSW that the period of tenure for current members of the Workers' Compensation (Dust Diseases) Board expired on 30th June 2008. The Board invited Unions NSW to submit nominations for three members and three alternate members for consideration for appointment to the Board.
Com. J. Robertson moved the Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and the issue of nomination for the Dust Diseases Board be referred to the OH& S and Workers Comp Committee for consideration."
Com. R. Mallia seconded the resolution.
CARRIED
4. From the Australian Workers' Union, Greater NSW Branch:- regarding the statistics released this week on union membership. The Union said that once again the doomsayers were again predicting the end of the union movement. They said how wrong they were and that all this week's statistics showed was how right the union movement was in defeating the Howard Government's vicious attack on unionists through WorkChoices. The Union said that the desire for union membership was still widespread within the community. They said some polls are showing up to 50% of the workforce wanted to be members of the union. The question then was not about the end of the union movement but the renewed growth in a new political climate that recognises the key role unions have to play. The AWU said they were confident that the future trend in union membership would be up and the doomsayers would have to eat their words.
Com. J. Robertson moved the Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and Unions NSW notes this week's statistics as vindication of its campaign against the WorkChoices legislation."
Com. R. Collison seconded the resolution.
CARRIED
5. From the Electrical Trades Union, New South Wales Branch:- acknowledging Com. Robertson's participation in the 2020 Summit in Canberra this weekend. The Union said that they had no doubts about the ability of Com. Robertson to represent the views and thoughts of the trade union movement. They said that any vision for the future of this nation had to include a role for the trade union movement and that one only had to look back at the events of the last three years to know this to be true. The ETU Secretary, Com. B. Riordan said that like everyone else he didn't have a crystal ball as to the future of the nation but that it was evident that the world of work would continue to change. He said that working people would find themselves under increasing pressure to work longer hours, undertake higher work-loads, more responsibility and accept less secure forms of employment. He also said that in this world it was crucial that they have strong, well resourced trade unions, to protect and assist them in workplace. Com. Riordan said that it was up to the union movement as to how it performed this role into the future but what must be clear at the summit was that role would continue and unions must be afforded the right environment to perform it on behalf of working people. He wished the Secretary, Com. Robertson well for the weekend and said he looked forward to hearing his report back.
Com. J. Robertson moved the Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and Unions NSW endorse the view that the union movement has a key role to play in the future of the nation up to ad beyond 2020."
Com. B. Riordan seconded the resolution.
CARRIED
REPORTS
1. Vocational Education Training
Assistant Secretary, Mark Lennon reported that a body called the National Skills Policy Coalition had been launched. Its purpose Com. Lennon reported was to further the case for the skills challenge facing Australia. Com. Lennon said the Coalition had released a document outlining a ten point plan for improving the skill level of the Australian workforce. Com. Lennon said he would be convening a meeting on May 6th to consider the matter further.
Com. J. Robertson moved:-
"That the report be received and noted."
Com. N. Allen seconded.
CARRIED
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
1. Community Rally To Protest Privatisation of Electricity
Industry in NSW
Where: Outside Michael Costa's Office
26 Honeysuckle Drive, Newcastle
Friday, 18th April 2008 - 1.00pm
For further information contact Gary Kennedy, Secretary
Newcastle Trades Council on 4929 1162 or email gary@newtradeshall.com
2. "CLOSETHEGAP" Day Event
Tuesday, 22nd April 2008, 6.30pm
LHMU Auditorium, 187 Thomas Street, Haymarket
Two short documentaries will be shown. Further information on the documentaries is available at www.antar.org.au/liyarn.ngarn
Entry will be by note donation, with all proceeds going to the Lingiari Foundation. To RSVP or for further information contact Joseph Kennedy, LHMU National Office on 8204 3029 or josephk@lhmu.org.au.
3. The Centre for Policy Development Common Ground Event
Topic - Paid Maternity Leave
Wednesday, 23rd April 2008
5.30pm for 6.00pm sharp start (concluding 7.30pm)
Venue: Barnett Long Room, Customs House
31 Alfred Street, Circular Quay
RSVP by Friday 18th April 2008 to contact@cpd.org.au or
9264 0263
4. International Dayof Mourning Service
Monday, 28th April 2008
12.30pm
Reflection Park, Little Pier Street, Darling Harbour
(Opposite Sydney Entertainment Centre)
For further information contact Robyn Griffith on 9881 5999 or rgriffith@unionsnsw.org.au
5. Community Rally To Protest Against Privatisation of Electricity Industry in NSW
Saturday, 3rd May 2008 - 9.30a.m.
Outside the NSW ALP Conference
Darling Harbour Convention Centre
Further information is available at www.stoptheselloff.org.au
COUNCIL ADJOURNED AT 6: 23PM
Acting President:____________________________________
About Unions NSW
