Meeting held : 02 April 2009
Chair of Meeting: The President, Comrade Marilyn Issanchon
Location of the meeting : Trades Hall Auditorium, 4 Goulburn St Sydney
UNIONS NSW MEETING MINUTES
MEETING HELD THURSDAY 2ND APRIL 2009
IN THE TRADES HALL AUDITORIUM
AT 4 GOULBURN STREET, SYDNEY, AT 6:00PM
The President, Com. M. Issanchon occupied the Chair.
PRESENT: - M. Lennon [Secretary], C. Christodoulou [Assistant Secretary], A. Kerslake, [Deputy Assistant Secretary]
MINUTES: -
The Secretary, Com. M. Lennon moved: -
"That the minutes as circulated be received".
Com. G. Kelly seconded.
CARRIED
The Secretary, Com. M. Lennon moved: -
"That the minutes as circulated be adopted".
Com. P. Kessey seconded.
CARRIED
APOLOGIES
Apologies were received and accepted for: - R. Fortescue, F. Barnes, B. Holmes, S. Turner, B. Kruse.
The Secretary, Com. M. Lennon moved: -
"That the apologies be received and accepted".
Com. S. Woodward seconded.
CARRIED
EXECUTIVE BUSINESS
CORRESPONDENCE
1. From the Hon. John Hatzistergos MLC, Attorney General and Minister for Industrial Relations:- advising Unions NSW that there was no provision under the Banks and Bank Holidays Act 1912 for the automatic observance of a public holiday on Monday when a public holiday falls on a Saturday.
He advised that there would be no additional public holiday granted for the Monday following Anzac Day on 25th April 2009. The Minister advised that this was consistent with the majority of the other Australian states and territories.
Com. M. Lennon moved the Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and Unions NSW pursue legislative change to ensure the automatic observance of Monday as a public holiday when Anzac Day falls on a weekend."
Com. G. Derrick seconded the resolution.
CARRIED
2. From Anti-Poverty Week New South Wales:- advising Unions NSW that Anti-Poverty Week in 2009 would be held from 11th to 17th October. They advised that the United Nations had designated 17th October as International Poverty Day. The main aims of Anti-Poverty Week in Australia were to:
• strengthen public understanding of the causes and consequences of poverty and hardship around the world and within Australia; and
• encourage research, discussion and action to address these problems including action by individuals, communities, organisations and governments.
Com. M. Lennon moved the Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and Unions NSW support Anti-Poverty Week and that Alison Peters be invited to address a future meeting of Unions NSW".
Com. C. Bodnar seconded the resolution.
CARRIED
3. From the Hon. John Hatzistergos MLC, Attorney General and Minister for Industrial Relations:- advising Unions NSW that the NSW Government had recently been informed of a change in Commonwealth Government policy in relation to the application of the Implementation Guidelines to the National Code of Practice for the Construction Industry. The Minister said that the NSW Government had consistently opposed the prescriptive workplace requirements that have been imposed on industry participants as a result of these guidelines.
Com. M. Lennon moved the Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and Unions NSW reiterates its opposition to the current Implementation Guidelines of the National code of Practice.
Further, we call upon the Rudd Government to immediately abolish the ABCC".
Com. S. Woodward seconded the resolution.
CARRIED
4. From the Public Service Association of New South Wales: - thanking Unions NSW and its affiliates for their support at the anti-privatisation of prisons rally held today. The union advised that over 5,000 people attended the rally which demonstrates the anger prison officers and the community at large have towards the Government on this issue.
Com. M. Lennon moved the Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and Unions NSW congratulates the PSA and members of the POVB and other affiliates who supported the anti-privatisation rally.
Further, we call upon the NSW Government to hold meaningful negotiations with the union on workplace reforms and to withdraw their privatisation proposal".
Com. J. Kiejda seconded the resolution.
CARRIED
5. From the Finance Sector Union of Australia, NSW Branch:- congratulating Premier Rees on the range of initiatives announced in the response to the Jobs Summit recommendations from 26th and 27th February this year. The union said that these initiatives would give our state the best chance of weathering the storm created by the global financial crisis. The FSU requested Unions NSW write to the Premier offering full ongoing co-operation of the NSW union movement in the creation of safe, meaningful, sustainable and well paid jobs in NSW.
Com. M. Lennon moved the Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and Unions NSW congratulate the State Government on its Job Summit initiative, and further, looks forward to the creation of sustainable and well paid jobs in NSW".
Com. G. Derrick seconded the resolution.
CARRIED
6. From the Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union, NSW Branch:- advising Unions NSW of their concerns regarding the National Review into Model Occupational Health & Safety (OHS) Laws, commissioned by the Workplace Relations Ministers' Council (WRMC) as part of the COAG process for harmonisation of OH & S legislation.
Com. M. Lennon moved the Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and Unions NSW continues its opposition to the watering down of OH& S Laws in NSW.
Further, a meeting of affiliates be convened for the purpose of planning its ongoing campaign".
Com. C. Drane seconded the resolution.
CARRIED
7. From the Rail Tram and Bus Union, NSW Branch:- regarding the recent reaction from the NSW Government to reports in the Daily Telegraph over Gold Pass entitlements which has seen the Premier announce a review of these entitlements. The RTBU said that they had no objections to reviewing the current pass entitlements (which have applied since 1961) for people who are on leave without pay but there should not be any attempt to alter the current employee entitlements to a Gold Pass. The union requested assistance from Unions NSW in representing this important matter to the Minister for Transport who is undertaking the review.
Com. M. Lennon moved the Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and Unions NSW assist the RTBU in protecting their members entitlements".
Com. N. Lewocki seconded the resolution.
CARRIED
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Due to the Easter Break next week the usual Thursday Unions NSW meeting will not be held.
MEETING ADJOURNED AT 6:20PM
President:___________________________
About Unions NSW
