Meeting held : 24 September 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 24th SEPTEMBER 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].
MINUTES: -
The Secretary, Com. M. Lennon moved: -
"That the minutes as circulated be received".
Com. B. Tubner seconded.
CARRIED
The Secretary, Com. M. Lennon moved: -
"That the minutes as circulated be adopted".
Com. G. Dwyer seconded.
CARRIED
CREDENTIALS
From The NSW Teachers Federation- appointing R. Kelly in place of J. Dixon and M. Ragusa in place of F. Barnes.
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, A. Tattersall, F. Barnes, G. Kelly, B. Holmes, B. Johnson, B. Kruse, J. Kiedja, L. Palmer, G. Kelly, J. Dixon.
The Secretary, Com. M. Lennon moved: -
"That the apologies be received and accepted".
Com. C. Sullivan seconded.
CARRIED
EXECUTIVE BUSINESS
CORRESPONDENCE
1. From the Nature Conservation Council (NCC):- inviting Unions NSW to support their new campaign regarding engaging and organising the community and workers on climate change. They said that on Saturday 17th October NCC would be running 'Activate: Community Organising Training for Climate Solutions' which would bring people together from a range of sectors, industries, organisations and communities, and provide them with the tools, skills and resources for community organising around climate change. A key focus of the training would be teaching participants how to hold effective climate change conversations with everyday Australians. Further, to this NCC will be co-ordinating Walk Against Warming, Australia's largest day of community action on climate change on 12 December 2009, to coincide with the International Day of Action on Climate Change held in Copenhagen during the UN negotiations.
Com. M. Lennon moved the Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and Unions NSW circulate the NCC community organising training to affiliates recommending that they support the initiative."
Com. C. O'Sheades seconded the resolution.
CARRIED
2. From the Construction Forestry Mining & Energy Union:- regarding the recent amendment to the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2000 which clarifies that employees of unions can be authorised representatives for the purposes of right of entry under the OH&S Act. The CFMEU congratulated the NSW Government on the amendment to the OH&S Act to maintain decent right of entry powers under NSW OH&S laws. They also thanked Unions NSW for their assistance with the changes to the legislation.
Com. M. Lennon moved the Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and Unions NSW congratulates the NSW Government for amending its OH&S laws to ensure that unions continued to have rights of entry to workplaces to investigate alleged breaches of the Act."
Com. S. Woodward seconded the resolution.
CARRIED
3. From the Public Service Association:- regarding the recent trip to Alice Springs by delegates Mal Cochrane, Aboriginal Liaison Officer at the PSA, Adam Kerslake, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Unions NSW and Steve Turner, Assistant General Secretary, PSA. The Union said that the delegation had visited three communities - one town camp and two more remote communities. They said that in all three communities, elders spoke to them about the terrible indignity their communities were suffering following the intervention. The intervention was undertaken following a report alleging wide alcohol abuse leading to domestic violence and the sexual abuse of children. The PSA said that these communities had been dry for many years and they had undertaken activities within their community to protect individuals and to guard against anti-social behaviour. They commonly spoke about government agencies undertaking activities without working together with the communities, leading to a change to many activities, which disempowered the indigenous people. The Union said that in the two years since intervention, during which $1 billion had been allocated for housing, not one house has been built. In schools there was compulsory four hours of English lessons at the beginning of each day which could eventually lead to the erosion of their local language. They said that a program was also being run called "income management" which meant that individuals were no longer directly receiving money from government agencies. It was instead being directed into a card which they must compulsorily use to purchase items. Whilst it was important to ensure that communities were supported, and that sexual abuse did not occur, it was important to protect children in all communities. The PSA said that they didn't believe that the way the current intervention was being run was the best way to a achieve this. They said that the current Policy of Intervention had been implemented by the former Liberal Government and that it was shocking to see that it was continuing unchanged under Labor. They said that communities were undertaking a campaign to have the intervention changed so that the Federal Government works in partnership with the local communities. The PSA believes it is important that Unions NSW and its affiliates support such a campaign so that the intervention will occur in partnership with the local communities, ensuring that the people are treated with dignity and respect.
Com. M. Lennon moved the Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and Unions NSW calls upon the Federal Government change its intervention policy so as to ensure that strategies to improve the lives of our indigenous people are done in partnership with local aboriginal communities."
Com. S. Turner seconded the resolution.
CARRIED
4. From the Maritime Union of Australia:- thanking Unions NSW and the unions involved for their ongoing support and commitment for the 'Gotta love Sydney Ferries Campaign." The MUA said that the tender process for Sydney Ferries was currently underway and that Sydney Ferries were up against two private companies in the tendering process. They said that the community campaign which was supported by the union movement believes that they are well placed to win the bid and that Sydney Ferries should be kept in public hands. The union advised that the campaign committee planned a number of launches in key electorates and that the first launch held on Friday 18th September in the seat of Drummoyne had been an overwhelming success and was well supported. They said that congratulations should go to the Member for Drummoyne, Angela D'Amore who was the first State member to offer their support to our campaign and also a special mention to Nick Lucchinelli, Media Officer, Unions NSW for all his hard work in organising the media to cover the event.
Com. M. Lennon moved the Executive Recommendation
"That the correspondence be received and Unions NSW congratulate the 'Gotta love Sydney Ferries Campaign Committee.
Further, call upon affiliates to support further launches of the campaign as they occur."
Com P. McAleer seconded the resolution.
CARRIED
REPORTS
Com. M. Lennon reported on the "Young Union Network" function to be held on Tuesday, 29th September 2009 in the Unions NSW Executive Board Room, Level 3, 4 Goulburn Street. Sydney.
Secretary Com. M. Lennon moved:-
"That the report be received and adopted."
Com. K. Sullivan seconded
b>CARRIED
ANNOUNCEMENT
1. Sydney Alliance Fundraising dinner to be held on:
Thursday 22 October, 2009 at 7pm at the
Regal Chinese Restaurant, 347 Sussex St, Sydney
MEETING ADJOURNED AT 6: 30PM
President:____________________________________
About Unions NSW
