Meeting held : 12 July 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 12th
IN THE TRADES HALL AUDITORIUM
AT 4 GOULBURN STREET, SYDNEY, AT 6:05 PM
The Acting President Com. B. Johnson occupied the Chair.
PRESENT: - J. Robertson [Secretary] C. Christodoulou, M. Thistlethwaite, A. Peters (Deputy Assistant Secretaries).
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 Secretary, Com. J. Robertson moved: -
"That the minutes as circulated be received".
Com. J. Hannaford seconded.
CARRIED
The Secretary, Com. J. Robertson moved: -
"That the minutes as circulated be adopted".
Com. V. Higgins seconded.
CARRIED
CREDENTIALS
From The Australian Workers' Union, Greater New South Wales Branch appointing:- G. Hillier in place of S. Bali.
From The Textile, Clothing & Footwear Union of Australia, New South Wales Branch appointing:- D. Karlsson in place of B. Tubner.
From The Construction Forestry Mining & Energy Union, Construction & General Division, New South Wales Branch appointing:- Brian Parker in place of A. Ferguson.
The Secretary, Com. J. Robertson moved: -
"That the credentials be received and the delegates welcomed".
Com. P. Bradley seconded.
CARRIED
APOLOGIES
Apologies were received and accepted for: - S. Moait, M. Lennon, M. Stuart, B. Kruse, A. Ferguson, M. O"Halloran, F. Barnes, B. Holmes, J. Keijda, J. Diamond, G. Dwyer, R. Collison, P. McGregor, S. Bali, C. O'Sheades, L. Hankinson.
The Secretary, Com. J. Robertson moved: -
"That the apologies be received and accepted".
Com. B. Riordan seconded.
CARRIED
GUEST SPEAKER:
The Acting President, Com. B. Johnson, introduced Craig Emerson, Shadow Minister for Service Economy, Small Business and Independent Contractors and invited him to address delegates. Mr Emerson said that his portfolio allows him to develop policy in a true Labor tradition. He said that the Esselte story illustrates the difference between the Government and Labor. All the workers wanted was a collective agreement but under WorkChoices the employer can veto the right to bargain collectively leaving employees with no rights at all. Mr Emerson said that the Government was protecting the right of small business to collectively bargain which is the height of hypocrisy. He also said that the ALP would not allow sham arrangements for independent contractors however for the 1 million or so genuine independent contractors Labor will remove prohibition that prevents such people from being represented by a Union. Mr Emerson said that he welcomed the discussion about the relationship between the ALP and the Trade Union movement. He said it was a historical fact that the ALP was borne of the Trade Union movement and that together we have shaped our society. The Trade Union movement gives the ALP its values and the relationship needs to be appreciated.
The Secretary, Com. J. Robertson in thanking Craig Emerson said that these were very important messages and that we can't deny our history. He said that the ALP should be proud of its links and that the Trade Union movement was the largest organised group in Australia. Com. Robertson said that the Trade Union movement don't want to run the ALP but do want input and that the ALP has the capacity to bring everyone together while the Government was only interested in big business. Com. Robertson said that unions needed to consider how to include independent contractors with many having been, or who are currently union members.
EXECUTIVE BUSINESS
CORRESPONDENCE
1. From the Rail Tram and Bus Union, NSW Branch:- thanking Unions NSW for their assistance in exposing RailCorp's lies and attempts to blame hard working rail employees for management's failures. The Union said that yesterday RailCorp management had launched an unprecedented attack on rail workers by trying to blame them for senior management's failure to manage. They said the accusation was made that the union was running the railways which was preposterous given the unprecedented use of WorkChoices by RailCorp management in their dealings with rail workers. The Union said that it should be noted that every time there had been a problem or a safety issue, senior RailCorp management had always tried to blame rail workers. RailCorp management's public position belies the management culture of bullying, intimidation and harassment that has fostered a workplace where morale is at absolute rock bottom and workers are afraid to raise safety issues or concerns with management. RailCorp management had not only failed to manage the rail system but they had also allowed safety standards to drop across the industry in an attempt to run Treasury's economic line and cut costs rather than provide a quality transport service for Sydney.
Com. J. Robertson moved the Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and Unions NSW once again condemn RailCorp's blatant attempt to blame hard working rail employees for management's failures.
Further, Unions NSW will continue to support the Rail Unions in their endeavours to provide a first class public transport system."
Com. N. Lewocki seconded and spoke to the resolution.
CARRIED
2. From the National Union of Workers, NSW Branch:- advising Unions NSW of the ongoing dispute with Esselte. The Union advised that the struggle by their members at the Minto site continues and that a picket was in place outside the site gate. They said that a solidarity meeting was being organised at the Esselte site on Wednesday, 18th July and that members from other sites would be attending.
Com. J. Robertson moved the Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and noted and Unions NSW encourage all affiliates to attend the solidarity meeting at the Esselte site on Wednesday, 18th July, 2007."
Com. N. Allen seconded.
CARRIED
3. From the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance:- advising Unions NSW that the Alliance Musicians' Section had identified a number of issues affecting their members arising from problems associated with the operation of the Entertainment Industry Act 1989. The Union said they had raised these issues in correspondence to the Premier, the Hon. Morris Iemma in March and understood that their correspondence was brought to the attention of the Department of Commerce. The Union sought the assistance of Unions NSW in arranging a meeting with the Minister for Industrial Relations to discuss their concerns.
Com. J. Robertson moved the Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and Unions NSW arrange a meeting with the Minister for Industrial Relations, the Hon. John Della Bosca as requested."
Com. B. Parker seconded the resolution.
CARRIED
4. From the Finance Sector Unions of Australia, NSW Branch:- advising Unions NSW of the announcement by BankWest of its decision to open 160 new branches on the east coast, creating 3000 new jobs. The Union also advised that they had a Greenfields Agreement in place which would protect the rights of future BankWest employees while providing the bank with the capacity to undertake a business strategy that is focused on winning new customers through better service. They said that the agreement provided protection of hours, overtime, loadings for weekends, recognition of public holidays, family/work life balances, superior pay rates, other progressive employment provisions and the right for employees to join and seek assistance and representation from their union.
Com. J. Robertson moved the Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and Unions NSW congratulates the FSU for achieving a Greenfields Agreement with BankWest that is good for employees and the employer."
Com. G. Derrick seconded and spoke to the resolution.
CARRIED
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
1. Northern Beaches Your Rights At Work Group
A get to know each other meeting is being held on
Sunday, 15th July 2007 2pm - 4pm Brookvale Pub
Look out for the nurses wearing Rights At Work T-Shirts.
For further information contact Lynne on 0404 235 942.
2. North West Sydney Your Rights At Work Committee
The next meeting of the North West Sydney Group will be held on
Tuesday, 17th July 2007 at 7pm
Riverstone Bowling Club, 44 Riverstone Parade Riverstone
For further information contact Nathan Gale on 0402 764 299
3. Eastern Suburbs YR@W Group Street Stall
6.15p.m., Thursday 19th July 2007
Meet at the corner of Bronte Road and the Oxford Street Mall
The group will be collecting signatures for the petition and talking to people about the IR Laws. For further information contact Luke on 0425 214 731 or by email lukew@lhmu.org.au.
4. The Sydney Harbour Federation Trust Oral History Program
The Sydney Harbour Federation Trust is conducting an oral history program on Cockatoo Island. The Trust said that people's stories are as important as the gritty buildings, dry docks, slipways and wharves found around the island and are calling on all former Cockatoo Island workers to participate in the program. Further information regarding the program is available from Ms Eunice Sarif, Resources Manager of the Trust on (02) 8969 2138 or email Eunice.sarif@harbourtrust.gov.au.
COUNCIL ADJOURNED AT 6: 30PM
Acting President:____________________________________
About Unions NSW
