Meeting held : 03 July 2008
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 3RD JULY 2008
IN THE TRADES HALL AUDITORIUM
AT 4 GOULBURN STREET, SYDNEY, AT 6:07PM
The Acting President Com. B. Johnson occupied the Chair.
PRESENT: - J. Robertson [Secretary] M. Lennon [Assistant Secretary],
C. Christodoulou, M. Thistlethwaite, A. Tattersall, A. Kerslake (Deputy Assistant Secretaries).
MINUTES: -
The Secretary, Com. J. Robertson moved: -
"That the minutes as circulated be received".
Com. R. Fortescue seconded.
CARRIED
The Secretary, Com. J. Robertson moved: -
"That the minutes as circulated be adopted".
Com. F. Barnes seconded.
CARRIED
CREDENTIALS
From The New South Wales Local Government, Clerical, Administrative, Energy, Airlines & Utilities Union appointing: - G. Whalley in place of G. Golledge.
The Secretary, Com. J. Robertson moved: -
"That the credential be received and the delegate welcomed".
Com. B. Smith seconded.
CARRIED
APOLOGIES
Apologies were received and accepted for: - S. Moait, C. O'Sheades, A. Ferguson, R. Boanza and E. Cody.
The Secretary, Com. J. Robertson moved: -
"That the apologies be received and accepted".
Com. M. Issanchon seconded.
CARRIED
EXECUTIVE BUSINESS
CORRESPONDENCE
1. From the Department of Environment and Climate Change NSW:- advising Unions NSW of the establishment of a steering committee to oversee and guide the development of the Private Native Forestry (PNF) training and accreditation. The department invited Unions NSW to nominate a representative to be part of the steering committee. They said that on 1st August, 2007 the Government had introduced a Code of Practice regulating the Private Native Forestry Industry and that $4 million had been allocated for development of a PNF training and accreditation program. The department advised that a steering committee was needed to provide technical input and practical experience to the program and would be made up of representatives from: DECC PNF Policy and Operations Units, Department of Primary Industries (Forests NSW), TAFE NSW, Trade Unions and Landholder groups. They said that the committee's main focus would be to:
• oversee the development of specific PNF units by TAFE and/or other training organisations, including course content and pilot delivery, and
• oversee the development of an accreditation program for the PNF industry.
The committee would meet about every two months or at critical stages in the project.
Com. J. Robertson moved the Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and Unions NSW liaise with forestry unions regarding an appropriate representative on the Private Native Forestry Steering Committee."
Com. R. Collison seconded the resolution.
CARRIED
2. The Australian Services Union of New South Wales:- regarding the serious concerns the ASU has with the process of Award Modernisation currently being conducted for all awards, including NAPSAs. They said they believed that there was a serious possibility that workers who are award dependent may lose rights and conditions. The union said that there are 1.6 million award dependent workers in Australia with 60% being women and nearly all of them low paid. The union said that they represented community and disability workers in NSW who are award dependent, low paid and that 80% are women. They said that it was workers like these for whom they fought so hard to protect from WorkChoices and that we must not let one single worker be worse off as a result of award modernisation. The Union requested that a discussion paper written by the ASU "Modern Awards - Avoiding the Train Wreck" be circulated to affiliates.
Com. J. Robertson moved the Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and an urgent meeting of affiliates be convened to discuss the award modernisation process and a copy of the ASU's Discussion Paper be circulated to affiliates as requested."
Com. S. McManus seconded and spoke to the resolution.
CARRIED
3. From the Australasian Meat Industry Employees' Union, New South Wales Branch:- advising that together with Unions NSW and other affiliates they had been lobbying the ACTU to convince the Rudd Government that they have not gone far enough in restoring unions rights to reasonable access to work sites. The AMIEU said that under Howard's WorkChoices legislation some employers had taken full advantage of the Right of Entry provision by restricting access to a small room where the organisers had no contact with workers, and were not allowed access to the canteen or lunch area. The union advised that Cargill Australia Limited, Wagga Wagga was one of the companies to restrict their organiser to a small room and was who was not allowed access to toilet facilities unless he was escorted by security. They said that in recent discussions with the company, their organiser was given the impression that the company was prepared to relax the current restrictions and allow access to the workers in the canteen during their meal breaks. The company had also indicated that they would draft a Memorandum of Agreement setting out the terms that would apply in respect to the canteen area. However the proposed Memorandum of Agreement is far more restrictive than the current restricted access. The union said that it showed just how arrogant this company was and that under Clause E of the Schedule they were seeking to prevent the union from arranging or conducting meetings off site.
Com. J. Robertson moved the Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and Unions NSW note the proposed Cargill Australia MOU on Right of Entry as a clear example of the need for the Rudd Government to quickly reform the anti-union WorkChoices Right of Entry provisions."
Com. P. Fernandez seconded and spoke to the resolution.
CARRIED
4. From the Rail Tram and Bus Union, New South Wales Branch: - regarding the successful meeting of public sector delegates held today to discuss the State Government's Wages Policy. The union said that the solidarity of delegates was shown by the unanimous endorsement of the resolution calling for a public sector workers campaign on 30th July. They said that Unions NSW media response on behalf of public sector unions was very good and reinforced the public sector delegate's determination to protect public sector services without accepting a pay cut. The Combined Rail Unions were preparing for the distribution of a leaflet at CBD railway stations on the morning of Tuesday 8th July. They said that any unions who could assist in the distribution of the leaflets should contact Matt Thistlethwaite at Unions NSW and the Combined Rail Unions would allocate stations for distribution. The RTBU advised that the result of the ballot by rail workers to take protected industrial action had been successful. They said that on average over 80% of rail workers voted yes to industrial action and to oppose staff and service cuts and not to accept a pay cut. Rail Unions would be meeting to determine what action would be taken.
Com. J. Robertson moved the Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and Public Sector delegates be congratulated for their unanimous support for a day of campaign action over wages on 30th July.
Further, Unions NSW seek the assistance of affiliates to support the action of combined rail unions at rail stations next Tuesday."
Com. N. Lewocki seconded and spoke to the resolution.
CARRIED
REPORTS
1. Pay Equity
Deputy Assistant Secretary, Com. A Tattersall reported on pay equity. Com. Tattersall said the Unions NSW Women's Committee had considered the pay equity question in relation to the new federal legislation. She said the committee have resolved that the new legislation should contain appropriate pay equity principles that ensure employees have the right to equal remuneration for men and women employees for work of equal or comparable value as is the case in NSW, Tasmania and Queensland.
Com. J. Robertson moved:-
"That the report be received."
Com. C. Game seconded.
CARRIED
Com. J. Robertson moved:-
"That the report be adopted and the resolution of the
Women's Committee be endorsed and the mainstreaming
of pay equity issues be a priority of Unions NSW."
Com. M. Issanchon seconded.
CARRIED
2. Members Equity
Ms Dascia Bennett, National Relationships Manager, Members Equity Bank addressed delegates. Com. Bennett thanked Unions NSW and delegates for their support for Members Equity over the last 12 months. She said Members Equity were proud to have supported the Rights At Work Campaign. She said she looked forward to working with unions over the next twelve months and she invited delegates up to the Atrium for a Christmas in July celebration.
COUNCIL ADJOURNED AT 6:34PM
Acting President:____________________________________
About Unions NSW
