Meeting held : 20 November 1997
Chair of Meeting: The President, Com. J. Whelan
LABOR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
MEETING HELD 20TH NOVEMBER, 1997 IN THE
TRADES HALL AUDITORIUM
AT CORNER GOULBURN AND SUSSEX STREETS, SYDNEY, AT 6.06 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. B. Robson seconded.
CARRIED
The Acting Secretary, Com. M. Costa, moved:-
"That the minutes as circulated be adopted."
Com. M. McTigue seconded.
CARRIED
CREDENTIALS:-
For tonight's meeting:
From The Australian Services Union, New South Wales Clerical and Administrative
Branch - appointing F. Hancock, P. Sekhon.
From The Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union, Construction and
General Division, New South Wales Divisional Branch - appointing H. English in
place of C. Bates.
From The Textile, Clothing and Footwear Union of Australia - appointing S.
Davies, T. Woolgar in place of J. Owen, J. Isaacs.
Moved and seconded:-
"That the credentials be received
and the delegates welcomed."
APOLOGIES:-
Apologies were received and accepted from: P. Sams, J. Garrett,
B. Plain, N. Lewocki, G. Donnelly.
EXECUTIVE BUSINESS
CORRESPONDENCE:-
1. From the Transport Workers' Union of Australia,
New South Wales Branch - welcoming the reforms announced this week by the
New South Wales Premier to the security industry in New South Wales. It had
long campaigned for increased regulation within the industry, and in particular
in the cash in transit industry, and many of the measures outlined by the
Premier would go a long way towards raising the standard of the industry and
making it safer for those who work in it. This was only the first round of
reforms, however, and it was important that each of the 74 recommendations be
implemented as soon as possible. The Union looked forward to the support of
Labor Council and its affiliates in implementing further reforms to make the
industry as safe as possible for guards and the community.
Com. Costa moved Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and the Government be congratulated
for its moves to implement reforms to the cash in transit industry. Further,
Labor Council seek to have further reforms implemented as a matter of
urgency."
Com. J. Templeman seconded.
CARRIED
2. From the Police Association of New South Wales - regarding the
Association's recent salary campaign for its members, and advising that an
offer of a 22% salary increase was put to a plebiscite of members, and voting
resulted in the offer being accepted by a 71% majority of the membership. The
Association thanked the Labor Council officers for assisting at its mass
meeting at Wentworth Park, and also the ongoing negotiations which resulted in
the revised Government's offer of 22%.
Com. Costa moved Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and the Police Association be
congratulated on its campaign to achieve a fair and equitable wage outcome for
its members."
Com. V. Herman seconded.
CARRIED
3. From the WorkCover Authority of New South Wales - referring to recent
correspondence to Labor Council from the Attorney General and Minister for
Industrial Relations, the Hon. Jeff Shaw, QC MLC, regarding arrangements for
insurers to provide workers with copies of medical and other reports. The
Minister's letter set out a proposal, first, for an amendment of the
regulations under the Workers' Compensation Act to introduce requirements,
consistent with current regulatory powers, for provision of copies of medical
reports and, second, to seek Cabinet's approval for amendments of the Act
itself to strengthen regulatory powers. It requested Labor Council advise
whether the provisions of the draft Bill were satisfactory.
Com. Costa moved Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and that Labor Council forward a
response to the proposed bill after seeking the views of affiliates."
Com. S. Moait seconded.
CARRIED
4. From the Australian Services Union, New South Wales Clerical and
Administrative Branch - advising Council of a resolution carried
unanimously by its Branch Council, recently, in the following terms;
"Branch Council congratulates the Governor-General Sir William Deane AC KBE
on his public stance with regards to those who are less well off in our
society.
Sir William Deane has expressed his concern for those who are unemployed,
homeless, underemployed, children who were removed from their parents
(particularly Aboriginal).
Council congratulates Sir William Deane supporting his, and his wife's,
public stance for the less well off in our society - Congratulations, well
done."
The Union advised that a number of politicians were coming out
challenging some of the statements that Sir William Deane was making and in
view of the attacks that had been made on the Governor-General the Union called
on Labor Council to correspond with the Governor-General and Lade Deane
congratulating them on their stance in the defence of those less off in our
community.
Com. Costa moved Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and that Labor Council congratulate
the Governor-General on his public stance in support of the less well off in
society. Further Labor Council condemns those in society who seek to attack the
right of the Governor-General to speak out on these issues."
Com. M. Want seconded.
CARRIED
5. From the Australian Federal Police Association, New South Wales
Branch - seeking Council's assistance with the issue of travel exemptions
for its Sydney members. In the past its Sydney based members had been allowed
access to free travel on buses, trains and ferries. However, in the past few
years this arrangement had been altered to a discounted annual rail pass for
the trains and full fare for buses and ferries. This offer does not recognise
the role that its members are duty-bound to take when they witness an incident
on public transport and its members should not be required to pay for the
privilege of providing a policing presence on public transport, particularly
with no rights to victim's compensation. Currently, its NSW Police Colleagues
currently travel free on public transport in NSW and its interstate members
also travel free on public transport and all Police should be encouraged to use
public transport in NSW to safeguard passengers.
Com. Costa moved Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and that Labor Council assist the
Australian Federal Police Association in their endeavours to achieve public
transport travel exemptions for the members based in Sydney."
Com. A. Casey seconded.
CARRIED
6. From the Electrical Trades Union of Australia, New South Wales
Branch - concerning the New South Wales Government's rail reform, and in
particular the contracting out of railway maintenance by the Rail Access
Corporation. A recent case in the Victorian District Registry of the Federal
Court, by the Health Services Union of Australia, against two Health Care
Networks was successful and it appeared this decision may have a bearing on the
current situation in NSW regarding contracting out. The Union requested Labor
Council convene a meeting of interested unions to examine the decision and what
benefit it might bring to employees currently employed by the Railway Services
Authority. It also requested a meeting be convened with the Railway Services
Authority in order to resolve this issue.
The Union also advised of a proposal by the Rail Access Corporation to
transfer the Railcom section of the State Rail Authority to Rail Access
Corporation. This proposal would impact on its members as well as other rail
unions and it therefore requested that Labor Council convene a meeting of
interested parties in order to ensure that the employees of Railcom are not
disadvantaged by this proposal.
Com. Costa moved Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and that the meetings as requested be
agreed to."
Com. B. Schmidt seconded.
CARRIED
REPORT:-
1. PART-TIME WORK AGREEMENTS MINIMUM CONDITIONS STATE
CASE
Industrial Officer, Com. G. Gregory, reported on two matters.
Firstly, that the Pay Equity Ministerial Reference had been allocated to Her
Honour Glynn J. The matter would be brought on for a Directions Hearing
shortly, but would be heard in 1998.
Secondly, the Part-time Work Agreements Minimum Conditions State Case had been
set down for a further one day to finalise submissions. The Labor Council had
sought a minimum of three (3) continuous hours per start and twelve (12) hours
per week and a maximum amount of 85% of full-time hours per week. The employers
were seeking two (2) hours and eight (8) hours with no maximum, and also split
shifts. The latter was rigorously opposed because of the inherent unfairness of
split shifts.
The Acting Secretary, Com. M. Costa, moved:-
"That the report be received."
Com. G. Livermore seconded.
CARRIED
The Acting Secretary, Com. M. Costa, moved:-
"That the report be adopted."
Com. M. Williamson seconded.
CARRIED
COUNCIL ADJOURNED AT 6.27 P.M.
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