Meeting held : 14 May 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 14th May 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. Tattersall [Deputy Assistant Secretary].
MINUTES: -
The Secretary, Com. M. Lennon moved: -
"That the minutes as circulated be received".
Com. F. Barnes seconded.
CARRIED
The Secretary, Com. M. Lennon moved: -
"That the minutes as circulated be adopted".
Com. B. Johnson seconded.
CARRIED
CREDENTIALS
From The Textile Clothing & Footwear Union of Australia, NSW Branch replacing Stephen Davies with Natasha Flores.
From The Textile Clothing & Footwear Union of Australia, NSW Branch replacing Peter Lane with Hanisha McNabb.
From The NSW Teachers Federation replacing John Irving with Sue Simpson.
The Secretary, Com. M. Lennon moved:-
"That the credentials be received and the delegates welcomed".
Com. B. Smith seconded.
CARRIED
APOLOGIES
Apologies were received and accepted for: - A. Kerslake, G. Dwyer, R. Tonkli, N. Lewocki, B. Kruse, M. Tulloch, E. Cody.
The Secretary, Com. M. Lennon moved: -
"That the apologies be received and accepted".
Com. P. Kessey seconded.
CARRIED
GUEST SPEAKER
Alison Peters from NCOSS - Anti Poverty Week 11-17 October 2009
Alison congratulated Unions NSW on their victory with respect to paid parental leave and she said that this decision would greatly assist low income families particularly working women.
Alison requested Unions NSW support Anti Poverty Week and highlighted a range of statistics including that 44% of unemployed persons live below 50% of medium income poverty line. $285 per week was simply not enough for single persons to live decently and that the new start and youth allowance remain below the poverty line.
She emphasised the importance of anti poverty week in highlighting the effects on household financial stress and the need for governments to play an ongoing role to support a new group of people who will now be put into poverty as a consequence of the global financial crisis.
The Secretary, Com. M. Lennon thanked Alison and said that unions would be doing everything they could to highlight the plight of the poor and vulnerable during Anti-Poverty week.
EXECUTIVE BUSINESS
CORRESPONDENCE
1. From the Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union, Construction and General Division, NSW Branch:- regarding proceedings that have been brought to the High Court in respect of an interpretation of the 1983 OH&S legislation. The employers are arguing in the High Court that the IRC's construction of section 15 of the old Act made compliance with the Act impossible, thus offending the Constitution and being contrary to the rule of law. Thus what the High Court decides might have serious implications for the interpretation of the current act and also in terms of what happens with the strict nature of the duty in the harmonisation process.
Com. M. Lennon moved the Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and Unions NSW seek advice from the Attorney General Office as to the status of the case referred to in the correspondence and further, call upon the government to intervene if it hasn't already done so."
Com. I. Gemmell seconded the resolution.
CARRIED
2. From the NSW Nurses Association: - advising of their ongoing support to the campaign to ensure the high OHS Standards and rights that currently exist in NSW are retained in the workplace.
Com. M. Lennon moved the Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and Unions NSW continue its campaign to protect the strong OH&S laws we have in NSW.
Further, we call upon the NSW Government not to proceed with the Federal Governments harmonization proposal if as a consequence NSW OH&S laws are to be watered down."
Com. R. Collison seconded the resolution.
CARRIED
3. From the NSW Teachers Federation:- regarding International Day against Homophobia. There is no place for homophobia in our society and workplaces can be a starting point. International Day against Homophobia creates an opportunity to open up discussion around the issues involved in homophobia.
Com. M. Lennon moved the Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and Unions NSW support the International Day against Homophobia with a view to educating the community about the harm of homophobia in our society."
Com. F. Barnes seconded the resolution.
CARRIED
4. From The NSW Fire Brigade Employees Union:- regarding the State Government's decision to close 34 fire brigades throughout NSW. Since this has decision has been implemented a number of communities have been denied adequate fire protection leaving vulnerable communities unprotected.
Com. M. Lennon moved the Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and Unions NSW support the FBEU in their campaign to reopen those fire brigades which have been closed down and which are potentially placing many communities at risk.
Accordingly, we call upon the NSW Government to reverse this decision."
Com. S. Flynn seconded the resolution.
CARRIED
5. From the Public Service Association:- thanking Unions NSW and its affiliates for their support during the anti prison privatisation campaign.
Com. M. Lennon moved the Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and Unions NSW congratulates the PSA and its members for their successful campaign."
Com. S. Turner seconded the resolution.
CARRIED
6. From United Services Union:- requesting Unions NSW to continue the campaign with affiliates to oppose the privatisation of various aspects of the State owned electricity industry.
Com. M. Lennon moved the Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and Unions NSW expresses its grave concern with respect to the Government's current proposals as they relate to electricity privatisation. In particular, we note that there has been no employment protections agreed to in the event that the State Government proceeds with its plans.
Accordingly, Unions NSW seek an urgent meeting with the Minister to clarify these issues and that a meeting of affiliates be convened to discuss further strategies in our campaign to "Stop the Sell off."
Com. S. McNamara seconded the resolution.
CARRIED
7. From Financial Services Union:- congratulating Unions NSW and everyone involved in the victory of the introduction of Paid Parental Leave. This is a great victory for working families and the success of the campaign was largely due to the commitment and hard work of Australia's unions.
Com. M. Lennon moved the Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and Unions NSW welcomes the decision of the Rudd Government to introduce Australia's first system of national paid parental leave.
In particular, Unions NSW congratulates all of its affiliates and rank and file members who participated in the campaign."
Com. G. Derrick seconded the resolution.
CARRIED
REPORTS
1. Paid Parental Leave
The Secretary, Com. M. Lennon invited Jill Biddington to give a more detailed report on the paid parental leave campaign and in doing so thanked all of the following persons and organisations involved in the campaign.
Com. M. Lennon thanked Linda Carruthers, Sena Giblin, Annie Owens, Alison Peters, Wendy Worth, Amanda Tattersall, Alison Rudman, Mary Yaager, Alisha Wilde, Sarah Gardener, Jill Biddington, Alliance Partners, All Affiliates, other staff and officers of Unions NSW.
Com. Biddington provided an overview of the campaign noting the success was the total sum of efforts around education, research, lobbying, organising at workplaces, in the community, the development of activists and workplace leaders.
Com. Wendy Worth, RTBU spoke of the experience gained as a member activist and noted the importance in securing the benefit.
Com. Sue Simpson, NSW Teachers Federation praised the efforts of all parties in securing the funding and noted that this was a significant change of mindset in the community.
Com. Sally McManus spoke recognising the legacy that would remain for all workers in the future.
The Secretary, Com. M. Lennon moved:
"That the report be received and adopted."
Com. S. Simpson seconded
CARRIED
MEETING ADJOURNED AT 7:05PM
President:_______________________________
About Unions NSW
