Meeting held : 05 March 1998
Chair of Meeting: The President, Com. J. Whelan
LABOR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
MEETING HELD 5TH MARCH, 1998 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, N. Steer, G. Gregory, J. Robertson (Executive Officers).
The Secretary, Com. P. Sams, moved:-
"That the minutes as circulated be received."
Com. J. Murphy seconded.
CARRIED
The Secretary, Com. P. Sams, moved:-
"That the minutes as circulated be adopted."
Com. V. Herman seconded.
CARRIED
CREDENTIALS:-
For the ensuing year:
From The Community and Public Sector Union, New South Wales Branch - appointing M. Larsen, P. Davies in place of C. Ryan, V. Telfer.
For tonight's meeting:
From The Australian Services Union, New South Wales Clerical and Administrative Branch - appointing F. Hancock, P. Sekhon.
From The New South Wales Fire Brigade Employees' Union - appointing I. Bailey,
K. Cameron.
From The Textile, Clothing and Footwear Union of Australia - appointing T. Woolgar in place of B. Jenson.
Moved and seconded:-
"That the credentials be received
and the delegates welcomed."
APOLOGIES:-
Apologies were received and accepted from: G. Dwyer, S. Moait, J. Bennett, B. Riordan, J. Hennessy, B. Sexton, B. Johnson.
GUEST SPEAKER:
The President, Com. J. Whelan, welcomed and introduced Mr Wayne van der Rheede, Secretary of the Western Cape Branch of the South African Clothing Textile Workers Union, and part of a delegation from the Union, and invited him to address Council.
Com. van der Rheede spoke on the industrial and political situation of workers in South Africa. He thanked the Australian Trade Union Movement for its support of workers in South Africa in their fight against apartheid and for improved working conditions. Com. van der Rheede introduced Mr Aubrey Sithole, Vice President of COSATU, who specifically addressed the plight of Textile Workers in South Africa.
Com. Sams thanked Com. van der Rheede and Com. Sithole for their informative update on the situation of workers in South Africa.
Com. B. Tubner seconded.
CARRIED
BY ACCLAMATION
EXECUTIVE BUSINESS
CORRESPONDENCE:
1. From the New South Wales Department of Education and Training - seeking nominations to the Appeals Panel, the tri-partite body of members nominated by employer and employee industry organisations with close industry association, established for the purpose of hearing and determining appeals from decisions or determinations of the Vocational Training Board. Nominees should be involved in conciliation processes and have a suitable vocational education and training background. It requested Council's early advice on the matter.
Com. Sams moved Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and Labor Council nominate Com. Bill Wooldridge as its nominee on the Appeals Panel."
Com. B. Wooldridge seconded.
CARRIED
2. From the New South Wales Teachers' Federation - concerning a letter it had received from the New South Wales Fire Brigade concerning the increase in false fire alarms, as a result of inadequate installation and maintenance of automatic fire alarms, and the subsequent charges that were to be put in place to deter this from occurring. The Union had responded to the New South Wales Fire Brigade rejecting the change to the present scheme. It requested Labor Council take up this matter with the appropriate members of the New South Wales Government to ensure that the procedures put in place include the right to appeal for those people who will be penalised.
Com. Sams moved Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and Labor Council take up this matter with the Minister for Emergency Services."
Com. J. Lemaire seconded.
CARRIED
3. From the Textile, Clothing and Footwear Union of Australia - advising of a Global March Against Child Labour, it had organised in conjunction with World Vision, to be held in Sydney on Wednesday, March 11, 1998. The march was aimed at calling the world's attention to the problem of exploitation against the use of child labour. The march would begin at the Archibald Foundation in Hyde Park at 12:00 noon and arrive at the Town Hall at approximately 1:00 p.m. The Union requested that Labor Council affiliates support the march.
Com. Sams moved Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and details of the march and rally be circulated to all affiliates."
Com. T. Woolgar seconded and spoke to the resolution.
CARRIED
4. From the New South Wales Department of Industrial Relations - concerning the Workplace Relations Amendment (Superannuation) Bill 1997 introduced by the Federal Government to remove superannuation as an allowable matter under Federal awards, and the Taxation Laws Amendment Bill (No. 7) which provides a choice of superannuation fund. The federal department of Treasury and the Department of Workplace Relations and Small Business, as part of its consultations with the States, had written a paper "Choice of Superannuation Fund and the Removal of Superannuation as an Allowable Matter from Industrial Awards" a copy of which was provided for Council's information. The Department requested Council's comments, as soon as possible, on specific issues the paper raised.
Com. Sams moved Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and Labor Council prepare a response to the issues raised by the Department in its correspondence."
Com. C. Hodges seconded.
CARRIED
5. From the Australian Services Union, New South Wales Clerical and Administrative Branch - concerning comments made by Gary Brack of the Employers' Federation that graduate surveys indicated "... women were happily entering lower-paid occupations, something employers could not be held responsible for". The Union requested Labor Council bring these comments to the attention of delegates. The endeavours by Labor Council, and its application to have the New South Wales Industrial Commission right a grave injustice, should be supported not opposed. The Union called on Labor Council to strongly condemn these appalling comments made by Gary Brack of the Employers' Federation and advise members of the Employers' Federation of these arrogant and outdated views.
Com. Sams moved Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and Labor Council condemn the comments of Gary Brack and advise the Employers Federation members that such comments are offensive and out of touch with modern Australia."
Com. M. Want seconded and spoke to the resolution.
CARRIED
6. From the Finance Sector Union of Australia, New South Wales Branch - advising of an ANZ Bank Day of Protest it had organised for tomorrow, Friday, March 6, 1998 commencing at 9:00 a.m. outside the ANZ Head Office, 20 Martin Place, Sydney. It had received unprecedented messages from ANZ employees, ANZ customers and the general public deploring ANZ's recent savage round of job cuts. The Day of Protest would involve every ANZ Branch across NSW closing for all of Friday, March 6. The Union urged those members who could attend to do so.
Com. Sams moved Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and the FSU Rally be endorsed and all affiliates be encouraged to attend."
Com. G. Derrick seconded and spoke to the resolution.
CARRIED
COUNCIL ADJOURNED AT 6.40 P.M.
LABOR COUNCIL EXECUTIVE MEETING MINUTES
MEETING HELD 5TH MARCH, 1998 AT
377-383 SUSSEX STREET, SYDNEY, AT 5.06 P.M.
The President, Com. J. Whelan, occupied the chair.
PRESENT: P. Sams (Secretary), M. Costa (Assistant Secretary), M. Lennon, N. Steer, G. Gregory, J. Robertson (Executive Officers),
The Secretary, Com. P. Sams, moved:-
"That the minutes as circulated be taken as read and received."
Com. G. Derrick seconded.
CARRIED
The Secretary, Com. P. Sams, moved:-
"That the minutes as circulated be adopted."
Com. J. Templeman seconded.
CARRIED
CREDENTIALS:-
From The Education Group - appointing J. Lemaire in place of J. Hennessy.
From The Professional, Administrative and Clerical Group - appointing A. Macdonald in place J. Bennett.
APOLOGIES:-
Apologies were received and accepted from:- P. Ryan, S. Moait, M. Williamson, J. Hennessy, M. Williamson, A. Peters, M. Larsen, F. Belan, J. Hennessy, R. Collison, S. Hutchins, C. Thomson, J. Morris, J. Merchant, M. O'Connell, L. Usher, J. Bennett, R. Plain, G. Donnelly, I. West, B. Jardine.
GUEST SPEAKER:
Tonight's guest speaker is Mr Wayne van der Rheede, Secretary of the Western Cape Branch of the South African Clothing Textile Workers Union and part of a delegation from the Union.
CORRESPONDENCE:
From the New South Wales Department of Education and Training - seeking nominations to the Appeals Panel, the tri-partite body of members nominated by employer and employee industry organisations with close industry association, established for the purpose of hearing and determining appeals from decisions or determinations of the Vocational Training Board. Nominees should be involved in conciliation processes and have a suitable vocational education and training background. It requested Council's early advice on the matter.
Com. Sams moved Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and Labor Council nominate Com. Bill Wooldridge as its nominee on the Appeals Panel."
Com. B. Wooldridge seconded.
CARRIED
From the New South Wales Teachers' Federation - concerning a letter it had received from the New South Wales Fire Brigade concerning the increase in false fire alarms, as a result of inadequate installation and maintenance of automatic fire alarms, and the subsequent charges that were to be put in place to deter this from occurring. The Union had responded to the New South Wales Fire Brigade rejecting the change to the present scheme. It requested Labor Council take up this matter with the appropriate members of the New South Wales Government to ensure that the procedures put in place include the right to appeal for those people who will be penalised.
Com. Sams moved Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and Labor Council take up this matter with the Minister for Emergency Services."
Com. L. Poleson seconded.
CARRIED
From the Textile, Clothing and Footwear Union of Australia - advising of a Global March Against Child Labour, it had organised in conjunction with World Vision, to be held in Sydney on Wednesday, March 11, 1998. The march was aimed at calling the world's attention to the problem of exploitation against the use of child labour. The march would begin at the Archibald Foundation in Hyde Park at 12:00 noon and arrive at the Town Hall at approximately 1:00 p.m. The Union requested that Labor Council affiliates support the march.
Com. Sams moved Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and details of the march and rally be circulated to all affiliates."
Com. B. Tubner seconded.
CARRIED
From the New South Wales Department of Industrial Relations - concerning the Workplace Relations Amendment (Superannuation) Bill 1997 introduced by the Federal Government to remove superannuation as an allowable matter under Federal awards, and the Taxation Laws Amendment Bill (No. 7) which provides a choice of superannuation fund. The federal department of Treasury and the Department of Workplace Relations and Small Business, as part of its consultations with the States, had written a paper "Choice of Superannuation Fund and the Removal of Superannuation as an Allowable Matter from Industrial Awards" a copy of which was provided for Council's information. The Department requested Council's comments, as soon as possible, on specific issues the paper raised.
Com. Sams moved Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and Labor Council prepare a response to the issues raised by the Department in its correspondence."
Com. M. Want seconded.
CARRIED
From the Australian Services Union, New South Wales Clerical and Administrative Branch - concerning comments made by Gary Brack of the Employers' Federation that graduate surveys indicated "... women were happily entering lower-paid occupations, something employers could not be held responsible for". The Union requested Labor Council bring these comments to the attention of delegates. The endeavours by Labor Council, and its application to have the New South Wales Industrial Commission right a grave injustice, should be supported not opposed. The Union called on Labor Council to strongly condemn these appalling comments made by Gary Brack of the Employers' Federation and advise members of the Employers' Federation of these arrogant and outdated views.
Com. Sams moved Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and Labor Council condemn the comments of Gary Brack and advise the Employers Federation members that such comments are offensive and out of touch with modern Australia."
Com. M. Want seconded.
CARRIED
From the Finance Sector Union of Australia, New South Wales Branch - advising of an ANZ Bank Day of Protest it had organised for tomorrow, Friday, March 6, 1998 commencing at 9:00 a.m. outside the ANZ Head Office, 20 Martin Place, Sydney. It had received unprecedented messages from ANZ employees, ANZ customers and the general public deploring ANZ's recent savage round of job cuts. The Day of Protest would involve every ANZ Branch across NSW closing for all of Friday, March 6. The Union urged those members who could attend to do so.
Com. Sams moved Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and the FSU Rally be endorsed and all affiliates be encouraged to attend."
Com. G. Derrick seconded.
CARRIED
EXECUTIVE ADJOURNED AT 5.20 P.M.
About Unions NSW
