Meeting held : 27 September 2007
Chair of Meeting: The Acting President, Comrade Michael Want
Location of the meeting : Trades Hall Auditorium, 4 Goulburn St Sydney
UNIONS NSW MEETING MINUTES
MEETING HELD THURSDAY 27TH SEPTEMBER 2007
IN THE TRADES HALL AUDITORIUM
AT 4 GOULBURN STREET, SYDNEY, AT 6:06 PM
The Acting President Com. M. Want occupied the Chair.
PRESENT: - J. Robertson [Secretary] M. Lennon [Assistant Secretary],
C. Christodoulou, A. Peters (Deputy Assistant Secretaries).
OPENING
OF THE
MEETING:- The Acting President, Com. M. Want 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. P. McClelland seconded.
CARRIED
The Secretary, Com. J. Robertson moved: -
"That the minutes as circulated be adopted".
Com. P. McClelland seconded.
CARRIED
CREDENTIALS
From The Australian Workers' Union, Greater New South Wales Branch appointing: - L. Heaney in place of V. Falconer.
The Secretary, Com. J. Robertson moved: -
"That the credentials be received and the delegates welcomed".
Com. P. Kelly seconded.
CARRIED
APOLOGIES
Apologies were received and accepted for: - S. Moait, M. Thistlethwaite, R. Collison, M. O'Halloran, V. Higgins and B. Parker.
The Secretary, Com. J. Robertson moved: -
"That the apologies be received and accepted".
Com. G. Dwyer seconded.
CARRIED
EXECUTIVE BUSINESS
CORRESPONDENCE
1. From the Australian Workers' Union, Port Kembla, South Coast and Southern Highlands Branch:- expressing thanks to Deputy Assistant Secretary, Chris Christodoulou on behalf of RTA workers employed at the Bellambi depot for his assistance in helping to resolve a long standing manning dispute. The Union said that for 18 months they had been negotiating with the RTA to increase the number of road workers within the Illawarra region. They said that during these negotiations it was apparent that the RTA management were experts in burying issues within their bureaucracy and that the union found themselves going round in circles and not resolving the dispute..
Com. J. Robertson moved the Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and the thanks of the AWU be forwarded to Deputy Assistant Chris Christodoulou."
Com. S. King seconded the resolution.
CARRIED
2. From the Australian Services Union, NSW & ACT (Services) Branch:- regarding the current situation in Burma. The Union advised that the last nine days have seen the largest community uprising against Burma's military junta seen in the country since 1988. They said that monks, students and civilians had joined protests which last Tuesday swelled to 200,000 in the capital Rangoon and 100,000 in other cities and towns around the nation. Workers have made tentative steps to join the movement however intelligence was that the underground labour movement was growing stronger daily. The Union said that with unions illegal in Burma, workers take great risks in organising at work. They said that yesterday the Junta responded with violence killing three monks and one civilian and arresting hundreds. Burma's rightfully elected leader, Aung San suu Kyi, had been moved from house arrest to Insein Prison in Rangoon. The Union said that due to advances in information technology since the last widespread protests in 1988, pro-democracy supporters inside Burma learn quickly of action by those in the international community who provide them with moral support and put pressure on governments. The ASU requested that Unions NSW, affiliates and their members take the following action to support those workers, monks and civilians participating in the protests:
1. Promote and support the APHEDA Burma appeal which aims to provide financial and material assistance to workers and their families who are organising against the junta;
2. Support and promote weekly Thursday rallies in Sydney called by the Burmese community in NSW;
3. Call on the Howard Government to:
a) co-ordinate with the international community to end the violence by the junta immediately;
(b) support the UN's attempts to have UN Special Envoy to Burma Ibrahim Gambari enter immediately into Burma to assess the situation;
(c) support initiatives to assist Burma's peaceful transition to democracy;
(d) ensure Australia's Foreign Minister makes direct representations to Burma's military and takes a leading role in negotiating a path for transition to democracy;
(e) ensure Australia makes direct representations to China and India to maximise their attempts to pressure the junta;
(f) implement travel and diplomatic sanctions against the junta immediately and investigate the level of Australian business in Burma to assess if economic sanctions will impact on the junta;
(g) suspend all security co-operation with Burma, including AFP training of Burmese officials and police under the auspices of ASEAN.
The Union said that the situation inside Burma changed daily and we should be prepared to consider further urgent requests for support should they come from the Burmese community or the ITUC.
Com. J. Robertson moved the Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and Unions NSW support the pro-democracy campaign in Burma in the manner outlined in the correspondence.
In addition, Unions NSW call on the Federal Government to place economic sanctions on Burma in accordance with the resolution of the ITUC."
Com. P. Bradley seconded the resolution.
CARRIED
3. From the Maritime Union of Australia, Sydney Branch: - advising Unions NSW that the MUA have been negotiating a number of Agreements with State Owned enterprises including Sydney Ports Corporation and NSW Maritime. The Union advised that negotiations have reached an impasse in both areas due to the State Government's position on wage outcomes which are capped at 2.5%p.a or higher providing some qualifications were met. The Union said that they believe this was having a negative impact on their organisation's ability to come to an agreed settlement between the parties. They said they believe that this policy would have negative consequences for workers across NSW and, in particular those Unions negotiating under these terms. It was their view that 2.5% wage outcomes are in effect a wage cut when the market conditions around wages were considerably higher. The MUA requested Unions NSW convene a meeting of Unions who were in the position of negotiating under these terms. They believe it is important to develop a strategy across the unions in which we can have a united position and a campaign to oppose this unacceptable policy position. They also believe that this co-ordination between unions would have positive outcomes and limit the Government's ability to divide the union movement on this issue and wedge unions against each other.
Com. J. Robertson moved the Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and Unions NSW convene a meeting of public sector unions regarding the government's wages policy as requested."
Com. P. McAleer seconded the resolution.
CARRIED
4. From the Construction Forestry Mining & Energy Union, Construction & General Division, NSW Branch:- advising Unions NSW that they have joined a campaign launched by the Asbestos Diseases Foundation of Australia (ADFA) to assist mesothelioma victims. The Union said that ADFA is campaigning for the House of Representatives to pass legislation to enable the provision of special funding to subsidise the cost of standard-of-care chemotherapy treatment for the lung disease mesothelioma. They said that these drugs should be made accessible to all victims at a price everyone can afford und3r the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).
Com. J. Robertson moved the Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and Unions NSW support ADFA's campaign to have chemotherapy drugs added to the PBS for mesothelioma victims."<
Com. P. McClelland seconded the resolution.
CARRIED
5. From the Construction Forestry Mining & Energy Union, Construction & General Division, NSW Branch: - advising Unions NSW of the strong community opposition to the Federal Government's administration of the 457 visa system. The Union said that there were constant media reports of employers grossly exploiting foreign nationals whilst in Australia on 457 visas. They said that they were currently assisting 2 Chinese guest workers who had paid $12,000 each to an employment agent for employment in Australia with Elite Marble & Granite and a 4 year visa. The $12,000 paid was a bond and only refundable if the employment contract was completed. The Union said that the employment contract, signed in China, was for 4 years, and provided payments of:
• $50.00 per week living expenses;
• $500.00 per month to be forwarded to the family in China;
• $10.00 per hour after 38 hours of work per week;
• a bonus payment after 2 years and another after completing 4 years; and
• meals and accommodation.
The Union said that the 2 workers were employed for 14 months when they demanded that the $10.00 per hour overtime payment be made as per the employment agreement signed in China. They said that the employer responded by sacking the 2 workers and having them evicted, almost penniless, from their lodgings. They have each lost their $12,000 employment bond, leaving them in massive debt in China. Their visas have been cancelled and they will be detained and deported unless their visas are re-issued. They said that this was a shameful situation and reflected poorly on Australia. The Union advised that on Friday 28th September at 11.30a.m they would be marching from 280 Pitt Street to the offices of Prime Minister John Howard to protest against the exploitation of guest workers and requested Unions NSW encouraged affiliates to participate.
Com. J. Robertson moved the Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and Unions NSW condemn the actions of Elite Marble & Granite in exploiting 457 visa workers and that affiliates be reminded of tomorrow's rally in support of guest workers."
Com. P. McClelland seconded the resolution.
CARRIED
REPORTS
1. Campaign Report
a) City Works
The Secretary, Com. J. Robertson reported on the success of "Operation City Works" which, over three weeks has collected 700 signatures for the Rights At Work petition at Pitt Street Mall and Martin Place. He also reported that 15,000 leaflets had been distributed at Central, Wynyard, Town Hall, Martin Place, St James and Circular Quay. The Secretary thanked those unions who had participated in "Operation City Works".
b) Eden Monaro Bus Tour
The Secretary, Com. J. Robertson reported that the Rights At Work bus tour of the Snowy/inland parts of the Eden-Monaro electorate had been very successful. While the bus had visited smaller towns on this trip and had smaller meeting attendances as a result, there was still a lot of support for the campaign.
Com. J. Robertson moved:-
"That the report be received and noted"
Com. N. Allen seconded the resolution.
CARRIED
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
1. Screening of CFMEU Documentary "Constructing Fear"
Friday, 28th September 2007 at 10.45a.m.
Level 1, Mitchell Theatre, Sydney Mechanics School of Arts
280 Pitt Street, Sydney. This will be followed at 11.30am by a March to Prime Minister John Howard's Office to protest the exploitation of Guest Workers.
2. Australia@Work Report - "The definitive story behind the first
year of WorkChoices Tuesday, 2nd October 2007
9.30am for 10am sharp start - Unions NSW Auditorium
Launch of the most comprehensive study of workers and their agreements ever undertaken in Australia.
RSVP by 21st September 2007 to: Robyn Griffith at rgriffith@unionsnsw.org.au or (02) 9881 5918.
3. Eastern Suburbs YR@W Campaign Launch
Thursday 4th October 2007 - 6.30pm
Waverley Bondi Junction RSL
1 - 9 Gray Street, Bondi Junction
For further information contact Luke Whitington on 0425 214 731 or LukeW@lhmu.org.au
4. 153rd Anniversary Labor Day Dinner
Friday, 5th October 2007
7.00pm -Strangers Dining Room, Parliament House, Sydney
$125 per ticket - All proceeds to "Your Rights At Work" Campaign. For further information contact Alisha Wilde on 9881 5908 or Mary O'Donoghue on 9881 5916.
5. The City of Sydney Spring Cycle will take place going from North Sydney to Sydney Olympic Park. Sunday, 21st October 2007 Following the success of the City to 'Gong bike ride it is proposed that a YRAW group take part in this event which is supporting the MS Society. Further information is available on www.springcycle.com.au. If you are interested please contact Alison Peters at a.peters@unionsnsw.org.au or (02) 9881 5999.
COUNCIL ADJOURNED AT 6: 27PM
Acting President:________________________________
About Unions NSW
