Meeting held : 12 June 1997
Chair of Meeting: The President, Com. J. Whelan
LABOR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
MEETING HELD 12TH JUNE, 1997 IN THE
TRADES HALL AUDITORIUM
AT CORNER GOULBURN AND SUSSEX STREETS, SYDNEY, AT 6.05 P.M.
The President, Com. J. Whelan, occupied the Chair.
PRESENT:- P. Sams (Secretary), M. Costa (Assistant Secretary)
M. Lennon (Executive Officer).
The Secretary, Com. P. Sams, moved:-
"That the minutes as circulated be received."
Com. R. Smith seconded.
CARRIED
The Secretary, Com. P. Sams, moved:-
"That the minutes as circulated be adopted."
Com. T. O'Hare seconded.
CARRIED
CREDENTIALS:-
For the ensuing year:
From The Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union, Food and Confectionery
Division - appointing B. Fletcher.
For tonight's meeting:
From The Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union, Construction
and General Division, New South Wales Branch - appointing L. Hawkins in
place of C. Bates.
From The Textile, Clothing and Footwear Union of Australia - appointing
T. Woolgar in place of P. Jones.
Moved and seconded:-
"That the credentials be received
and the delegates welcomed."
APOLOGIES:-
Apologies were received and accepted from: S. Moait, L. Darnley, L.
Poleson, G. Donnelly,
R. Collison, A. Peters.
GUEST SPEAKER:
The President, Com. J. Whelan, welcomed and introduced Sam Day, a United
States guest representing the Australian Campaign to Free Mordechai Vanunu,
and invited him to address Council.
Com. Day told Council of the fight to free Mordechai Vanunu, the Israeli
anti-nuclear whistleblower. Com. Vanunu had been working as a nuclear technician
and blew the whistle on Israel's secret nuclear weapons program, and for
this act of conscience he has been in solitary imprisonment for the last
ten years. Com. Day advised that in line with campaigns around the world,
Australia had stepped up the campaign to free Mordechai Vanunu.
The Secretary, in thanking Com. Day for again bringing this matter to
Council's attention advised that Labor Council had previously supported
Mordechai's release and we would continue to do so. Com. Sams wished Com.
Day every success in the campaign.
Com. V. Herman seconded.
CARRIED
BY ACCLAMATION
The Secretary, Com. P. Sams, sought leave of the meeting to congratulate,
on behalf of the Labor Council and its affiliates, the granting of an award
in the Order of Australia to Com. Frank Belan, Secretary of the National
Union of Workers, and Com. Lorna Morrison, Secretary of the Trades Hall
Association, in the recent Queen's Birthday Honours List.
Com. Belan spoke to Council on receiving the award.
Com. Morrison spoke to Council on receiving the award.
EXECUTIVE BUSINESS
CORRESPONDENCE:-
1. From the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union, Mining
and Energy Division - advising that its members at the RTZ-CRA Hunter
Valley No. 1 Mine near Singleton were engaged in protected industrial action
under the appropriate provisions of the Workplace Relations Act 1996. It
had established picket lines at the various entrances to the mine and coal
preparation plant. The Union requested Labor Council to officially endorse
the picket lines and to request affiliates of Council to co-operate by
not crossing the line.
Com. Sams moved Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and Labor Council endorse
the picket line at the RTZ-CRA Mine at Singleton and advise all affiliates
accordingly."
Com. P. McClelland seconded.
CARRIED
2. From the Australian Workers' Union, Greater New South Wales
- advising that the Metal Trades Federation of Unions (MTFU) was holding
a rally on Thursday, June 26 to demonstrate its disgust and opposition
to the stripping back of conditions in the Metal Industry Award. The Union
sought the support and endorsement of Labor Council and affiliates and
its assistance in assuring the rally is a success.
Com. Sams moved Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and Labor Council endorse
the MTFU rally and encourage all affiliates to attend."
Com. N. Allen seconded and spoke to the resolution.
CARRIED
3. From the National Aboriginal History and Heritage Council
- bringing to Council's attention that a Development Application had now
been lodged by the Cyprus-Hellene Club to construct a 35 level residential
tower on the site of the "Day of Mourning and Protest" building,
in Elizabeth Street, Sydney.
Com. Sams moved Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and Labor Council refer
this matter to the Building Industry Group of Unions."
Com. J. Templeman seconded.
CARRIED
ANNOUNCEMENT:-
The Secretary, Com. P. Sams, advised all affiliates of the 4th lecture
in the 1997 Whitlam Lecture Series to be held Wednesday, June 25 at 6.00
p.m. The lecture would be delivered by Anne Summers, Writer, Columnist
and Social Commentator on Back to the Future: Issues and Ideas for the
Men and Women of Australia, and would be held in the auditorium at
the NSW Teachers' Federation. Admission would be by ticket only and the
cost of the tickets - $5.00.
COUNCIL ADJOURNED AT 6.45 P.M.
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