Meeting held : 27 August 2009
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 27 AUGUST 2009
IN THE TRADES HALL AUDITORIUM AT
4 GOULBURN STREET, SYDNEY AT 6:05PM
The Acting President, Com. B. Johnson occupied the Chair.
PRESENT: - M. Lennon [Secretary], A. Kerslake [Deputy Assistant Secretary].
OPENING OF THE MEETING
The Acting President Barry Johnson opened the meeting and in doing so recognised the traditional owners of the land on which the meeting was held, The Gadigal People of the Eora Nation.
MINUTES: -
The Secretary, Com. M. Lennon moved:
"That the minutes as circulated be received".
Seconded: Com. P. Sinclair
CARRIED
The Secretary, Com. M. Lennon moved:
"That the minutes as circulated be adopted".
Seconded: Com. G. Derrick
CARRIED
CREDENTIALS
From The Textile Clothing & Footwear Union of Australia:- replacing Peter Lane with Graydon Welsh.
The Secretary, Com. M. Lennon moved: -
"That the credentials be received and the delegates welcomed".
Com. B. Tubner seconded.
CARRIED
APOLOGIES
Apologies were received and accepted for: - C. Christodoulou, M. Morey, A. Tattersall.
The Secretary, Com. M. Lennon moved: -
"That the apologies be received and accepted".
Com. B. Tubner seconded.
CARRIED
EXECUTIVE BUSINESS
CORRESPONDENCE
1. From the NSW Teachers Federation:- regarding the potential sale of the Seaforth TAFE site by the Department of Education and Training. The Federation said that nearly 70% of residents polled by Manly Council last year had supported the reopening of the Seaforth TAFE site as an educational facility. The Teachers Federation remains firmly committed to the site being retained in public ownership. The Federation said that the bans placed by Unions NSW in 1999 and reaffirmed in September 2006, had been valuable in maintaining the public ownership of the college and land. The Federation asked that Unions NSW continues its support for the Federation's position and that Unions NSW again affirms its ban on the movement of vehicles, equipment, plant and materials on and off the Seaforth Site.
The Secretary, Com. M. Lennon moved the Executive Recommendation:
"That the correspondence be received and Unions NSW reaffirm its support for the Federation's campaign in support of the reopening of Seaforth TAFE.
Further, Unions NSW also reaffirm its ban on the movement of vehicles, plant equipment and materials on and off the TAFE site."
Com J. Kiejda seconded the resolution
CARRIED
2. From the United Services Union:- concerning the implementation and use of tracking devices for vehicles and individuals. The Union said that there had been a marked increase in the number of Councils seeking to implement some form of tracking surveillance in the workplace. They said that although the Workplace Surveillance Act (NSW) 2005 (The Act) had provisions for both covert and overt surveillance in the workplace the USU did not believe that The Act was sufficiently worded to deal with tracking devices.
The Secretary, Com. M. Lennon moved the Executive Recommendation:
"That the correspondence be received and Unions NSW convene a meeting of affiliates to discuss the rights of employees in relation to the use of tracking devices by employers."
Com P. Kessey seconded the resolution
CARRIED
3. From the Electrical Trade Union: - advising that the findings of the Owen report were actually flawed. They said that Professor Owen did not just get it wrong in relation to the timing of the need for additional capacity, but also in relation to the long term prospects of retail electricity. The union said that the Government's trader model proposal would not work despite assurances from the Minister that a new proposal would be put on the table within a 7 week time frame and that this period had now elapsed with still no correspondence from the Government.
The Secretary, Com. M. Lennon moved the Executive Recommendation:
"That the correspondence be received by Unions NSW and that Unions NSW write to the Minister and convey affiliates concerns about this matter."
Com. B. Riordan seconded the resolution
CARRIED
4. From the Cross-Campus Concessions Coalition (CCCC):- requesting support for the rally on 2nd September 2009 from UTS to State Parliament House and to present a petition of over 5,000 signatures to members of the Legislative Assembly. The Coalition said that the main demand was for both State Governments to extend transport concessions to international students, in the light of recent attacks on Indian and Chinese students and complaints regarding dodgy tertiary colleges in Sydney and Melbourne. They said that International students were students first!
The Secretary, Com. M. Lennon moved the Executive Recommendation:
"That the correspondence be received by Unions NSW and noted."
Com K. Sawtell seconded the resolution
CARRIED
REPORTS
Sydney Ferry Campaign Launch
The Secretary, Com. M. Lennon reported on the successful Campaign Launch of Gotta Love Sydney Ferries at Circular Quay on Friday 21 August 2009 at 8.30am. Com. M. Lennon congratulated and thanked the officers involved with the successful launch.
Secretary Com. M. Lennon moved:-
"That the report be received and adopted."
Com. A. Jacka seconded.
CARRIED
ANNOUNCEMENTS
1. Workplace Safety Forum - Don't Risk 2nd Rate Safety
Monday 31 August at 12:30pm, Unions NSW Trades Hall Auditorium.
2. NSW Police Association - 'Keep Our Cops' Mass Rally
Tuesday 1 September - Outside Parliament House, Macquarie Street.
MEETING ADJOURNED AT 6.25 PM
Acting President:____________________________________
About Unions NSW
