Meeting held : 30 October 1997
Chair of Meeting: Executive Member, Com. J. Templeman
LABOR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
MEETING HELD 30TH OCTOBER, 1997 IN THE
TRADES HALL AUDITORIUM
AT CORNER GOULBURN AND SUSSEX STREETS, SYDNEY, AT 6.07 P.M.
Due to the absence of both the President and Vice Presidents the Acting
Secretary, Com. M. Costa, moved that Com. J. Templeman chair the meeting.
Com. B. Wooldridge seconded.
CARRIED
PRESENT:- M. Costa (Acting Secretary), M. Lennon (Executive
Officer).
The Acting Secretary, Com. M. Costa, moved:-
"That the minutes as circulated be received."
Com. C. Hodges seconded.
CARRIED
The Acting Secretary, Com. M. Costa, moved:-
"That the minutes as circulated be adopted."
Com. C. Bosworth seconded.
CARRIED
CREDENTIALS:-
For tonight's meeting:
From The Textile, Clothing and Footwear Union of Australia - appointing K.
Price, T. Woolgar in place of K. Boyd, J. Owen.
Moved and seconded:-
"That the credentials be received
and the delegates welcomed."
APOLOGIES:-
Apologies were received and accepted from: P. Sams, J. Whelan, J.
Merchant, S. Moait, L. Darnley, G. Donnelly, I. Munro, P. Ryan, L. Poleson.
GUEST SPEAKER:-
The Acting President, Com. J. Templeman, welcomed and introduced
Jack Clarke from the Friends of Cockatoo Island Inc. and invited him to address
Council.
Com. Clarke addressed Council and spoke about the concerns of the Friends of
Cockatoo Island Group that Cockatoo Island would be sold to private interest.
The Group had been lobbying strongly to stop any sale taking place which would
place Cockatoo Island in private hands. The Group was seeking the support of
the Labor Council and its affiliates, both financially and by way of lobbying
the State and Federal Politicians.
Com. Costa thanked Com. Clarke for his address to Council this evening.
Com. D. Reiss seconded.
CARRIED
BY ACCLAMATION
EXECUTIVE BUSINESS
CORRESPONDENCE:-
1. From the Australian Services Union, NSW & Act Services Branch -
advising that FreightCorp, a State Owned Corporation, was not a State Employer
in respect of the State Government Redundancy Provisions and Employee
Entitlements under the Transferred Officers' Extended Leave Act, 1961. This
stance would disadvantage the Union's members, despite assurances given by the
Premier and the Minister for Transport at the time of progressing the Rail
Reform Agenda. It sought the assistance of Labor Council and affiliates to
protect its members entitlements, by convening a meeting with the Shareholding
Minsters for FreightCorp, FreightCorp and representatives from the Premier's
Department.
Com. Costa moved Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and Labor Council support the Union's
request."
Com. G. Sargeant seconded.
CARRIED
2. From the Attorney General and Minister for Industrial
Relations, the Hon. Jeff Shaw, QC MLC - thanking Council for its
nominations for appointment to the interim New South Wales Workers'
Compensation Advisory Council, and advising that Mr Peter Sams, Mr Andrew
Ferguson, Ms Sandra Moait, Mr Ian West, Ms Lynne Poleson and Mr Steve Hutchins
had been appointing to the interim Advisory Council. The Minister advised that
establishment of the interim Council would provide an opportunity for improved
consultation and co-operation between the Scheme's stakeholders, and he looked
forward to the progress of the Council.
Com. Costa moved Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and noted."
Com. D. Reiss seconded.
CARRIED
3. From the Combined Pensioners and Superannuants Association
of New South Wales Inc. - providing Council with a copy of a petition sent
to the honourable the Speaker and Members of the House of Representatives
assembled in Parliament to stop the Federal Aged Care Act, and requesting
Council distribute the petition to its members.
Com. Costa moved Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and the request for the distribution
of the petition be agreed to."
Com. M. Williamson seconded.
CARRIED
4. From the Communications, Electrical, Electronic, Energy, Information,
Postal, Plumbing and Allied Services Union of Australia, Plumbing Division, NSW
Branch - concerning the closure of City Rail Building Maintenance
Facilities at Central Railway Station and requesting that Labor Council convene
a meeting with the Unions involved and State Rail to discuss the matter.
Com. Costa moved Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and the meeting requested be
convened."
Com. B. Wooldridge seconded.
CARRIED
5. From the Finance Sector Union of Australia, Commonwealth Bank Officers'
Section- concerning a proposal by the Commonwealth Bank of Australia to
close down its Supply Services Centre at Camperdown, threatening the jobs of
190 people. The Union requested Labor Council supports its campaign to keep
this Centre open and further that affiliates support any industrial action that
unions on the site may take.
Com. Costa moved Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and Labor Council support the FSU in
its campaign to protect its members' jobs at the Commonwealth Bank Centre at
Camperdown."
Com. P. Presdee seconded and spoke to the resolution.
CARRIED
REPORT:-
1. UNFAIR DISMISSAL PROVISIONS
Industrial Officer, Com. Gail Gregory, reported on the decision in the
Moore vs Newcastle City Council over access of Federal Award employees to the
State Tribunal, when excluded from the Federal Jurisdiction due to the
Workplace Relations Act 1996. The Full Bench held there was no access and Com.
Gregory advised that Labor Council would be approaching the Minister for
Industrial Relations, the Hon. Jeff Shaw, QC MLC, to amend the New South Wales
Act in order to allow access.
The Acting Secretary, Com. M. Costa, moved:-
"That the report be received."
Com. R. Collison seconded.
CARRIED
The Acting Secretary, Com. M. Costa, moved:-
"That the report be adopted and Labor Council approach the Minister for
Industrial Relations, the Hon. Jeff Shaw, QC MLC, to take up this
matter."
Com. G. Dwyer seconded.
CARRIED
COUNCIL ADJOURNED AT 6.40 P.M.
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