Meeting held : 12 May 2005
Chair of Meeting: The Acting President, Comrade Barry Johnson
Location of the meeting : LHMU Auditorium, 187 Thomas Street, Sydney
PRESENT: - J. Robertson (Secretary), A. Peters, C. Christodoulou, M. Thistlethwaite (Deputy Assistant Secretaries).
The Secretary, Com. J. Robertson moved: -
"That the minutes as circulated be received".
Com. F. Barnes seconded.
CARRIED
The Secretary, Com. J. Robertson moved: -
"That the minutes as circulated be adopted".
Com. F. Barnes seconded.
CARRIED
CREDENTIALS
From The Textile Clothing & Footwear Union of Australia appointing: - K. Price in place of J. Owen and M. Edwards in place of S. Davies.
From The Australian Manufacturing Workers Union appointing: - M. Schutz in place of H. Delaney.
The Secretary, Com. J. Robertson moved: -
"That the credentials be received and the delegates welcomed".
Com. G. Dwyer seconded.
CARRIED
APOLOGIES
Apologies were received and accepted for: - S. Moait, M. Lennon, C. Game, J. Diamond, J. Cahill, K. Angel, B. Harris, B. Smith, S. Walsh.
GUEST SPEAKER
The Acting President. Com. B. Johnson introduced and welcomed Mr Tom McDonald, Coordinator of the publication "Changing Australia A Union History" and former National Secretary of the Building Workers Industrial Union and invited him to address delegates.
Com. McDonald thanked delegates for the opportunity to address them this evening about the publication "Changing Australia The Union Story". He said the publication was 23 stories of important moments in union history.
Com. McDonald said the aim of the publication was for it to be used in schools and tertiary education and that copies were sent out to all secondary schools and universities as a learning resource. He said that the publication would also be in Council libraries and that a CD version of book was also available.
Com. McDonald said money for the development of the publication was raised from the Teachers Federation, the Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union, the Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union and other unions and supporters. He said the stories were about hope, sacrifice, struggle, justice and victories that had made Australia a better society for working people.
Com. McDonald said the publication was launched by the Hon. Carmel Tebbutt, Minister for Education and Training, and that it had been well received.
In closing, Com. McDonald said the challenge now was to take the project forward by repeating it in other states.
The Secretary, Com. J. Robertson moved a vote of thanks for Com. McDonald on his achievement of this publication. He said it contained all of the things unions had struggled for such as annual leave, workers compensation, sick leave and fair hours of work. He said these achievements had not happen without the trade union movement and that often young people did not appreciate these struggles.
Com. Robertson said that it was 150 years since the 8 hour day was achieved in NSW and that attacks on trade unions show that we can not take our wins for granted. He said unions should be proud of their achievements but also needed to be vigilant.
In closing, Com. Robertson said that we couldn't know where we are going if we did not understand where we have been and again thanked Com. MacDonald for his efforts in driving this important project forward. He also acknowledged and thanked Com. Anna Collins for her contribution to the project.
EXECUTIVE BUSINESS CORRESPONDENCE: -
1. From The Australian Meat Industry Employees' Union, NSW Branch: - advising Unions NSW that Dairy Farmers had announced on Tuesday, 9th May 2005 that as part of their rationalisation program they intend to close a number of their operations, which included the Dairy Farmers, Bomaderry Plant and Distribution Centre. The Union said the closure of the plant would have an immediate effect on approximately 70 current employees and an indirect effect on approximately 200 people reliant on the continual operation of the plant. The Union said the Bomaderry plant had 100 years of history, servicing and supporting the local community and dairy industry on the South Coast. The Union said it would be a tragedy not only for the current employees but also the associated industries and people in the district reliant on the plants continued operation. The Union said the South Coast region had a recent history of closures, particularly in the steel industries, which had led to a high unemployment rate in the area and that the closure of the Dairy Farmers Bomaderry plant would only add to that pain. The Union said they would be vigorously opposing the closure of the Bomaderry plant and campaigning to have the Company reverse their decision in respect of the Bomaderry plant. The Union requested Union NSW to support their actions, and as a matter of urgency, contact the Premier's Department with a view of convening a meeting with the Premier, the Hon. Bob Carr, regarding this matter.
Com. J. Robertson moved the Executive Recommendation: -
"That the correspondence be received and Dairy Farmers be condemned for their decision to close down their Bomadery Plant without any consultation with the union or employees affected. Further, Unions NSW endorse the campaign by the Australian Meat Industry Employees' Union to oppose the closure".
Com. M. Want seconded.
CARRIED
2. From the Finance Sector Union, NSW Branch: - advising Unions NSW that yesterday the National Australia Bank (NAB) had announced a $2.5 billion 1/2 year profit. At the same time, the Union said the NAB had announced 4,200 job cuts including 2,000 Australian jobs. The Union said their members at NAB had rebuilt the National's market share in the last twelve months despite a series of bungles at the top that had cost billions. The Union said these same members had now been rewarded with a half-baked press release that was aimed at placating the market analysts and protecting the bank's share price. The Union said the bank was seriously understaffed and under-resourced in a number of areas. In closing, the Union vowed to not only defend every Australian job currently under threat but to campaign vigorously to fill the gaps caused by the mismanagement that comes from an apparent obsession with daily share price fluctuations.
Com. J. Robertson moved the Executive Recommendation: -
"That the correspondence be received and the National Australia Bank be condemned for their decision to announce 4,200 job cuts at the same time as a $2.5 billion half year profit. Further, Unions NSW endorse the campaign by the Finance Sector Union opposing the job cuts".
Com. G. Derrick seconded and spoke to the resolution.
CARRIED
3. From the Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union, Construction and General Division: - advising Unions NSW that the Federal Government had tripled tax payer funding for the Building Industry Taskforce, set up to harass building workers and take away their civil rights. The Union said the Building Taskforce budget had blown out from $9 million last year to $23 million for 2005/06and that the Government had allocated an additional $24.13 million to set up a new body, the Australian Building and Construction Commission, to deny building workers the civil rights enjoyed by all other Australian workers. The Union said the Government was wasting $40 million over the next year on these organisations to rob building workers of their rights. The Union said the Building Industry Taskforce had already ran a series of discredited court cases, drawing judicial censure at their heavy handed tactics, including the secret taping of workers and employers. The Union said not many Australians realised that they were funding a body that would have coercive powers, which would be used against workers. In closing the Union said these powers were an assault not just on construction workers, but also on all Australian workers.
Com. J. Robertson moved the Executive Recommendation: -
"That the correspondence be received and Unions NSW condemns the Federal Government's decision to provide an additional $24.13 million to set up the Australian Building and Construction Commission to deny building workers the civil rights enjoyed by all other Australian workers. Further, Unions NSW calls on the Federal Government to instead spend this money on necessary public services".
Com. A. Ferguson seconded and spoke to the resolution.
CARRIED
4. From the United Services Union: - advising Unions NSW that earlier this week the Federal Government delivered the Budget. The Union said the distribution of tax cuts delivered were unfair as the overwhelming majority of recipients received approximately $6.00 per week where those on six figure salaries receive ten times that amount. The Union said this action by the Government was divisive and unacceptable and that the tax cuts should have been more equitable across the workforce. Further, the Union said the attack on sole parents and those on disability pensions was to be deplored. The Union said they did not understand nor accept that those who were most disadvantaged in the community should be demonised. In closing the Union said these impositions on the disadvantaged must be rejected and condemned. Therefore, the Union requested Unions NSW to call on the Federal Government to treat all community members with dignity and respect.
Com. J. Robertson moved the Executive Recommendation: -
"That the correspondence be received and Unions NSW calls on the Federal Government to ensure that it tax cuts are more equitable across the workforce and to not penalise sole parents and those on disability pensions who are unable to participate in the workforce".
Com. M. Want seconded and spoke to the resolution.
CARRIED
5. From the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs: - thanking Unions NSW for their letter of 22nd March 2005 to the Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs Senator, the Hon. Amanda Vanstone, expressing views on compliance operations involving children at schools. The Department said they were aware of the sensitivities of dealing with children in a compliance and detention context and that departmental officers had instructions that the needs and welfare of children in these complex circumstances were to be given the highest priority. In the very small number of cases where compliance officers have visited schools, the Department said this had been done in a sensitive and low-key manner in consultation with either the principal or deputy principal. The Department clarified some points reported in the media and said that there had been two visits by NSW Compliance officers to schools in recent months. The Department said only a minority of children (9%) and women (20%) found to be unlawful in Australia were detained. The Department said in the majority of cases when they work on removal arrangements women and children remain in the community and that sometimes detention was required particularly, where parents were not co-operating with removal arrangements. In some cases, the Department said people have a history of making applications when located and then disappear into the community ahead of a negative decision. Furthermore, the Department said when children had been detained they were given access to a range of services and schooling arrangements.
Com. J. Robertson moved the Executive Recommendation: -
"That the correspondence be received and Unions NSW renew its condemnation of the Department's procedures with respect to children. Further, in light of media stories regarding significant failures by the Department in carrying out their role, Unions NSW support the call by refugee actions groups for a Royal Commission into the treatment of asylum seekers, refugees and immigration detainees".
Com. P. Bradley seconded.
CARRIED
6. From the Public Service Association of NSW: - advising Unions NSW that former EMC employee Tim Brunero was a housemate on reality TV show "Big Brother". The Union said Com. Brunero when asked a question about John Howard told it straight, the way it should be told. As we enter into this campaign to protect the industrial relations systems it was great to see a young worker so openly supporting the trade union movement inside the house. The Union urged all delegates to spread the word among their members and to turn to your children and their friends for assistance to ensure that Com. Brunero stays on Big Brother and makes it to the end - a victory that would be for all of us.
Com. J. Robertson moved the Executive Recommendation: -
"That the correspondence be received and Unions NSW encourage affiliates to evict any of the other housemates except Tim Brunero".
Com. S. Turner seconded.
CARRIED
COUNCIL ADJOURNED AT 6:40 PM
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