Meeting held : 14 August 1997
Chair of Meeting: The President, Com. J. Whelan
LABOR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
MEETING HELD 14TH AUGUST, 1997 IN THE
TRADES HALL AUDITORIUM
AT CORNER GOULBURN AND SUSSEX STREETS, SYDNEY, AT 6.05 P.M.
PRESENT:- M. Costa (Acting Secretary), M. Lennon (Executive
Officer).
The Acting Secretary, Com. M. Costa, moved:-
"That the minutes as circulated be received."
Com. J. O'Brien seconded.
CARRIED
The Acting Secretary, Com. M. Costa, moved:-
"That the minutes as circulated be adopted."
Com. R. McConville seconded.
CARRIED
CREDENTIALS:-
From The Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union, Construction
and General Division, New South Wales Divisional Branch - appointing R.
McKay, T. Vicente in place of D. Reiss, C. Bates.
From The CEPU, Electrical Division - appointing M. Murphy in place of
C. Harris.
Moved and seconded:-
"That the credentials be received
and the delegates welcomed."
APOLOGIES:-
Apologies were received and accepted from: P. Sams, M. McTigue, R. Collison,
C. Harris, J. Garrett.
MOTION OF CONDOLENCE:-
The Acting Secretary, Com. M. Costa, advised affiliates it was his sad
duty to report the passing of Com. Laurie McGowan former Federal Secretary
of the Professional Radio Employees Institute, now the CPSU. Com. McGowan
held this position from 1950 to 1975 and had been a delegate to Labor Council
for many years. He died at the age of 84.
Com. Costa moved a Motion of Condolence to the family and friends of
the late Laurie McGowan.
Com. V. Higgins seconded.
CARRIED BY DELEGATES
OBSERVING A MINUTES SILENCE
EXECUTIVE BUSINESS
CORRESPONDENCE:-
1. From the Transport Workers' Union of Australia, New South Wales
Branch - concerning the Part Time Work Agreements Minimum Conditions
(State) Case and advising that it had been set down for 20th August for
programming of dates for the hearing. It requested a meeting of affiliates,
with relevant representation from the Minister's office, so that it would
have the opportunity of outlining the Crown's position to affiliates prior
to this date.
Com. Costa moved Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and the requested meeting
be convened."
Com. B. Plain seconded.
CARRIED
2. From the Textile, Clothing and Footwear Union of Australia
- advising of a rally it was holding to protest about proposed changes
to the Tariff Policy, next Wednesday, August 20, 1997 at 12.00 noon at
Sydney Town Hall. It expected a minimum of 3,500 members to attend and
the rally would finish outside the Prime Minister's Office in 70 Phillip
Street, Sydney. The rally would be addressed by the Hon. Bob Carr, MP and
the Hon. Kim Beazley, MP and it hoped Labor Council would also attend.
The Union thanked Labor Council for its assistance with the organisation
of the rally.
Com. Costa moved Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and Labor Council encourage
all affiliates to attend the TCFUA rally."
Com. K. Boyd seconded and spoke the resolution.
CARRIED
3. From the Australian Services Union, New South Wales Clerical
and Administrative Branch - advising of a resolution, carried at its
recent monthly meeting, in the following terms:
"This meeting of ASU members calls upon the Federal Opposition
Leader and Shadow Treasurer to initiate a broad range enquiry into Australia's
taxation system.
This enquiry should be undertaken in full consultation with affiliated
unions and should aim to identify areas and nature of possible reform(s).
It is anticipated that the results arising out of any such enquiry
will allow the Federal Opposition to formulate a comprehensive tax policy
for Labor's next term in office, as well as exposing the fraudulent and
corrupt nature of the Howard Federal Government's (media driven) GST proposals."
The Union requested Labor Council support its position.
Com. Costa moved Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and Labor Council supports
the call for a broad ranging enquiry into the tax system based firmly on
Labor principles of social justice."
Com. M. Want seconded.
CARRIED
4. From the Transport Workers' Union of Australia, New South Wales
Branch - concerning the dispute between Ampol Refinery, Kurnell, Transfield,
and others, over the Contractors Site Agreement, and threatened legal action
against certain unions and officials. The Union requested Labor Council
convene a meeting of unions involved in the dispute (AWU, AMWU, TWU and
ETU) as a matter of urgency to discuss a suitable strategy.
And from the Electrical Trades Union of Australia, New South Wales
Branch - advising that a picket line had been established by striking
contractor employees at the Kurnell Refinery. At present the picket line
was constituted by employees of Transfield Maintenance and at least one
other contractor. It advised that a worrying development in the dispute
was that Blake Dawson Waldron had advised it of Tort proceedings against
several AWU and AMWU officers and members.
Com. Costa moved Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and Labor Council endorse
the picket in accordance with Labor Council protocols on picketing and
further the meeting requested be convened."
Com. B. Schmidt seconded.
CARRIED
5. From the Australian Services Union, New South Wales Clerical and
Administrative Branch - concerning enterprise unionism, and advising
of its long standing policy in opposition to same. It viewed with concern
the activities of agents and bodies of employees endeavouring to establish
enterprise unions which would only serve to benefit employers and reduce
its capacity to service clerical and administrative employees. It requested
Labor Council convene a meeting to establish a policy on any application
by such bodies or agents to affiliate to Labor Council, and requested,
in the interim, that Labor Council reject any application by such bodies
or agents until a policy is established. It further requested Provincial
Councils to follow suit.
And from The Australian Workers' Union, Greater New South Wales Branch
- advising that its members working for ICI Botany were seeking to establish
an Enterprise Union. Outside consultants were involved in a propaganda
campaign pushing Howard/Reith Agenda to form an Enterprise Union, which
would eventually lead to individual contracts. It requested the support
of Council by refusing this Enterprise Union any right to affiliate to
the Labor Council of New South Wales.
Com. Costa moved Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and Labor Council adopt,
on an interim basis, a policy that excludes the affiliation to Council
of enterprise unions which have their genesis within current affiliates.
Further, a meeting of affiliates be convened to develop a more detailed
policy on enterprise unions to be put to ACTU Officers and, if necessary,
Congress."
Com. M. Want seconded and spoke to the resolution.
CARRIED
6. From the Bathurst Trades and Labor Council - advising that
at its 1997 Annual General Meeting, and a number of quarterly meetings
preceding, it was unable to attract a quorum. It was of the view of those
present including the President and the Secretary that the Council should
be dissolved and the financial assets forwarded to the Labor Council. It
had advised it had not sought affiliations for 1997.
Com. Costa moved Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and Labor Council Officers
investigate further the current position of the Bathurst Trades and Labor
Council and if necessary appropriately initiate a process to dissolve the
Council in accordance with Labor Council rules."
Com. A. Peters seconded.
CARRIED
7. From the Department of Energy, New South Wales Government
- advising that the Minister for Energy had now approved the environmental
guidelines and a greenhouse gas emissions measurement methodology. The
environmental guidelines and the methodology workbook foreshadow an accounting
methodology for linking greenhouse gas emissions from large scale generators
to particular electricity retailers and, accordingly, the implementation
of a voluntary emission contracting scheme was being investigated. The
Department provided an outline of the scheme for Council's consideration
and comment by August 27, 1997.
Com. Costa moved Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and referred to a meeting
of electricity unions."
Com. B. Wooldridge seconded.
CARRIED
ANNOUNCEMENTS:-
1. The Acting Secretary, Com. M. Costa, advised affiliates that
the State Wage Case Decision would be handed down tomorrow, Friday, August
15 at 2.00 p.m. at the Commission. Council would obtain a copy of the decision
and a copy would be forwarded to all affiliates for their information.
2. The Acting Secretary, Com. M. Costa, advised affiliates of
the forthcoming Harold Park "Comics in the Park" next Thursday
and Friday, 20 and 21 August, 1997. Rod Quantock, one of Australia's top
comedians would present his new show "Sunrise Boulevard" for
two sessions only commencing at 8.00 p.m. Union members would be given
a 25% discount on tickets and bookings could be made by telephoning Simon
Morgan at
the Harold Park Comedy Hotel on 9692.0564.
COUNCIL ADJOURNED AT 6.39 P.M.
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