Meeting held : 19 April 2007
Chair of Meeting: The Acting President, Comrade Russ Collison
Location of the meeting : Trades Hall Auditorium, 4 Goulburn St Sydney
UNIONS NSW MEETING MINUTES
MEETING HELD THURSDAY 19TH APRIL 2007
IN THE TRADES HALL AUDITORIUM
AT 4 GOULBURN STREET, SYDNEY, AT 6:07 PM
The Acting President Com. R. Collison occupied the Chair.
PRESENT: - J. Robertson [Secretary] M. Lennon [Assistant Secretary],
C. Christodoulou, A. Peters, M. Thistlethwaite (Deputy Assistant Secretaries).
MINUTES: -
The Secretary, Com. J. Robertson moved: -
"That the minutes as circulated be received".
Com. G. Derrick seconded.
CARRIED
The Secretary, Com. J. Robertson moved: -
"That the minutes as circulated be adopted".
Com. V. Higgins seconded.
CARRIED
CREDENTIALS
From The Rail Tram and Bus Union, NSW Branch appointing:- N. Lewocki, M. Cartwright, P. Kessey, L. Carruthers, A. Claasens, R. Baonza and P. Jenkins as delegates for 2007l
The Secretary, Com. J. Robertson moved: -
"That the credentials be received and the delegates welcomed".
Com. D. Belan seconded.
CARRIED
APOLOGIES
Apologies were received and accepted for: - S. Moait, M. Want, B. Smith, P. Kessey, C. O'Sheades, J. Diamond and N. Lewocki
The Secretary, Com. J. Robertson moved: -
"That the apologies be received and accepted".
Com. A. Ferguson seconded.
CARRIED
EXECUTIVE BUSINESS
CORRESPONDENCE
1. From Shop Distributive & Allied Employees' Association, NSW Branch: advising Unions NSW of the introduction of AWA's into the retail outlets of Darrell Lea. The Union said that these AWA's were about the removal of employee entitlements without proper compensation, and again gave a lie to the Howard Government's rhetoric of AWA's providing mutually agreed flexibility and improved wages. They said that Darrell Lea AWA's contribution to mutually agreed flexibility was to provide 1 hour minimum starts at the discretion of the employer and no paid rest breaks. Further, the AWA cuts wages for adults casuals in the following manner:
• Saturday rates cut by over $ 4.00 per hour
• Sunday rates cut by over $ 8.00 per hour
• Public Holiday rates cut by over $26.00 per hour
• Junior Rates are affected in proportionate terms.
The Union said that this was another shameful example of Howard's AWA's cutting earnings of Australian workers who have been stripped of proper protections and bargaining rights by the WorkChoices legislation. They said the union had commenced a campaign against Darrell Lea and their unconscionable AWA's and they would keep affiliates advised of its progress.
Com. J. Robertson moved the Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and Unions NSW support the SDA in its campaign to prevent the slashing of employee's conditions at Darrell Lea through the introduction of AWAs."
Com. G. Dwyer seconded the resolution.
CARRIED
2. From Trade Union Committee on Aboriginal Rights (TUCAR):- thanking Unions NSW for its continued support which has helped the committee operate effectively in its role with unions. They advised that they were working with Unions NSW Officer, Adam Kerslake in marginal seats to ensure as many of their people were enrolled for the next Federal election and the defeat of the Howard government. TUCAR sought a donation of $10,000 as Unions NSW had done in the past to allow TUCAR to continue its work.
Com. J. Robertson moved the Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and Unions NSW continue its support for TUCAR with a donation of $10,000.00."
Com. M. O'Halloran seconded the resolution.
CARRIED
3. From the Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union, NSW Branch: - advising Unions NSW that their members working on the Sydney Monorail were having their wages undercut by the introduction of AWAs. The Union said that these individual contracts reduced hard won award conditions such as penalty rates, rest breaks and public holidays leaving these low paid workers $84.00 per week worse off. They said that the monorail was operated by a French multinational Veolia who last year had made over $9.9 billion dollars. This company now required new employees to sign the AWAs as a condition of employment and have refused to go back to the bargaining table with their employees. The Union advised that LHMU members were meeting at 2p.m. on Friday, 20th April to express their outrage at these unfair work practices at the Darling Park monorail station and requested affiliates support this action.
Com. J. Robertson moved the Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and Unions NSW support the LHMU's campaign against the introduction of AWA's on the Sydney Monorail and advise affiliates of the protest tomorrow at Darling Park."
Com. A. Owens seconded the resolution.
Com. B. Fong addressed the meeting.
CARRIED
4. From the Australian Workers' Union, Greater New South Wales Branch:- advising Unions NSW that the ACTU had circulated to its affiliates an outline of the ALP's IR Policy announcements to date. The union requested that the policy announcements be circulated to all affiliates for their information. that the data showed AWA workers average 41.5 hours per week compared with 39.2 for workers on collective agreements. They said that this data also showed that women on AWA's were also earning $2.30 less an hour than those on collective agreements. The Workplace Relations Minister's answer to the survey was to continue to talk about increased flexibility for workers under AWA's without ever going into the details of the alleged benefits
Com. J. Robertson moved the Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and details of the ALP's IR Policy be circulated to affiliates as requested."
Com. N. Allen seconded the resolution.
CARRIED
REPORTS
1. Rockin For Rights April 22nd.
The Secretary, Com. J. Robertson reminded affiliates of the details of the March and concert on Sunday.
Com. J. Robertson moved:-
"That the report be received and noted"
Com. M. O'Halloran seconded.
CARRIED
ANNOUNCEMENTS
1. No Unions NSW Meeting Thursday 26th April
There will be no Executive or General Unions NSW Meeting on
Thursday, 26th April 2007 because of the ALP National Conference.
Meetings will resume on Thursday, 3rd May 2007.
2. Free WorkChoices Debate
Workplace Freedom? - WorkChoices One Year On
Sydney Mechanics' School of Arts Controversies Series
Thursday 10th May 2007 commencing at 6pm.
Level 1, 280 Pitt Street (Between Park & Bathurst Streets) Sydney
Speakers: Russell Lansbury (Professor of Work & Organisational Studies, Faculty of Economics & Business Sydney University
Ron Baragry (In-House Counsel, AIG & former partner Cutler, Hughes & Harris). For further information contact outreach@sydneymsa.com.au or (02) 9262 7300.
3. 2007 Mothers Day Classic
Join the Your Rights At Work team in the Mothers Day Classic 2007. Walk or Run for Breast Cancer Research.
Sunday 13th May 2007
For further information about how to participate in the YRAW teams, visit memberconnect.com.au or call 1300 362 223
4. Industrial Relations Society of NSW
48th IRS Convention 2007 - 'More To Work than WorkChoices'
Peppers Fairmont Resort, Leura
18th - 20th May 2007
For further information telephone the Administrator on
(02) 9630 5211 or email IRSNSW@bigpond.com.
COUNCIL ADJOURNED AT 6: 27PM
Acting President:____________________________________
About Unions NSW
