Meeting held : 19 March 1998
Chair of Meeting: The President, Com. J. Whelan
LABOR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
MEETING HELD 19TH MARCH, 1998 IN THE
TRADES HALL AUDITORIUM
AT CORNER GOULBURN AND SUSSEX STREETS, SYDNEY, AT 6.05 P.M.
PRESENT:- M. Costa (Acting Secretary), J. Robertson (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. J. Cahill seconded.
CARRIED
CREDENTIALS:-
For the ensuing year:
From The Communications, Electrical, Electronic, Energy, Information, Postal, Plumbing, and Allied Services Union of Australia - appointing I. McCarthy, G. Kennedy, M. Tulloch, D. Harris, G. Robins, M. Brownlow and K. Jones, B. Weir, K. Cotis, R. Amon, D. Richards, A. Jansen as alternate delegates.
For tonight's meeting:
From The Australian Services Union, New South Wales Clerical and Administrative Branch - appointing F. Hancock, D. Morosini.
From The New South Wales Teachers' Federation - appointing S. Edsall in place of M. O'Halloran.
Moved and seconded:-
"That the credentials be received
and the delegates welcomed."
APOLOGIES:-
Apologies were received and accepted from: P. Sams, N. Lewocki, J. Merchant, C. Hodges, M. Williamson, G. Donnelly, G. Dwyer, P. Reid, S. Moait, G. Gregory, M. Lennon, A. Peters, M. Ellery.
EXECUTIVE BUSINESS
CORRESPONDENCE:
1. From Com. Bert Schmidt, former Vice President of the Labor Council and Secretary of the Electrical Trades Union - concerning his resignation as Secretary of the Electrical Trades Union, both State and Federal, effective Friday, February 13, 1998 and resignation as Vice President of the Labor Council. Com. Schmidt thanked President, John Whelan, and Officers and staff of the Labor Council for their assistance and support over the years during his time as a full-time officer of the Union and also as office holder with Labor Council. He wished Council well in the continuing struggle, now and into the future.
Com. Costa moved Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and Labor Council express its thanks to Bert for his work and support in his years as Secretary of the Electrical Trades Union and Vice President of the Labor Council. Further Labor Council wish him all the best in the future."
Com. B. Riordan seconded.
CARRIED
2. From the New South Wales Teachers' Federation - advising Council that there had been a collapse of the consultation process between the Minister for Education and the Federation over a number of education issues which could not be agreed between the unions and the employers and Government. The Federation sought the support of Council and its officers to obtain sensible and meaningful discussions with the ALP State Government, initially regarding the school supervision and the adult migrant English classes issues. It was vital to develop proper consultation processes to avoid a complete breakdown in relations with the ALP Government and the public education sector.
Com. Costa moved Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and the Labor Council support the Union in its endeavours to establish proper consultative arrangements with the Minister for Education."
Com. B. Sexton seconded and spoke to the resolution.
CARRIED
3. From the New South Wales Teachers' Federation - advising it was campaigning to persuade the Commonwealth Government to reverse a decision to privatise 60% of the delivery of adult migrant English classes. For the past 50 years the Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs had directly funded the Adult Migrant English Service to teach newly arrived migrants and refugees. The Federation, as part of its campaign, was planning a newspaper advertisement which would include a statement and the names of organisations willing to provide support. It requested Labor Council be included in this advertisement and also a donation towards advertising costs.
Com. Costa moved Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and circulated and that Labor Council agree to endorse the advertisement and liaise with this union on how it can be of assistance."
Com. B. Sexton seconded.
CARRIED
4. From the National Tertiary Education Industry Union - concerning amendments to the NSW Long Service Leave Act 1955 and a letter it had written to the Minister for Industrial Relations concerning this. The Union was seeking amendments relating to an extension of the provision for pro rata long service leave for employees with between five and ten years service to fixed term contract employees. It was requesting the Minister to amend the Act to ensure employees terminated through the effluxion of time qualify for pro rata long service leave in situations where they have been for between five and ten years continuous service. It requested Labor Council's support in this matter.
Com. Costa moved Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and Labor Council support the Union in this matter."
Com. A. Ryan seconded.
CARRIED
5. From the New South Wales Nurses' Association - concerning the Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee - Aged Care Amendment Bill 1998. The Senate had referred the Aged Care Amendment Bill 1998 to the Legislation Committee for report by April 2, 1998 and the Committee was requested to examine the provisions of the Bill on a number of issues. The Committee, therefore, invited submissions addressing the issues. The Association requested Labor Council write to the Committee expressing concerns about the current aged care situation regarding.
Com. Costa moved Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and Labor Council circulate the details of the Legislation Committee to all affiliates and encourage them to write expressing concern with the proposal."
Com. K. Sullivan seconded.
CARRIED
REPORT:
1. VACANT EXECUTIVE POSITION - GENERAL EXECUTIVE MEMBER
The Acting Secretary, Com. M. Costa, advised affiliates that a vacant position existed on the Labor Council Executive, that of a General Executive Member. Nominations for the position would open tomorrow, Friday, March 20, 1998 at 9:00 a.m. and would close the following Thursday, March 26, 1998 at 5:00 p.m.
A ballot, if necessary, would take place between the hours of 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Labor Council Meeting on Thursday, April 2, 1998 which would be held in the Trades Hall Auditorium, corner of Sussex Street and Goulburn Streets, Sydney.
The Acting Secretary, Com. M. Costa, moved:-
"That the report be received."
Com. V. Herman seconded.
CARRIED
The Acting Secretary, Com. M. Costa, moved:-
"That the report be adopted."
Com. M. Want seconded.
CARRIED
ANNOUNCEMENT:
1. The Acting Secretary, Com. M. Costa, advised affiliates of a Western Sydney Labor Regional Assembly regarding Badgery's Creek Airport to be held this Sunday, March 22, 1998 at 11:00 a.m. at the Blacktown Workers Club. Further information could be obtained by contacting Eddie Husic on 9893.7822 or 418.655.105 or Caroline Staples on 9622.3110 or 9646.4617.
COUNCIL ADJOURNED AT 6.32 P.M.
LABOR COUNCIL EXECUTIVE MEETING MINUTES
MEETING HELD 19TH MARCH, 1998 AT
377-383 SUSSEX STREET, SYDNEY, AT 5.07 P.M.
The President, Com. J. Whelan, occupied the chair.
PRESENT: M. Costa (Acting Secretary), J. Robertson (Executive Officer), L. Darnley, D. Reiss, M. Want (Trustees), M. Ferguson, J. Templeman, G. Derrick, J. Bennett, B. King, B. Jardine.
The Acting Secretary, Com. M. Costa, moved:-
"That the minutes as circulated be taken as read and received."
Com. M. Ferguson seconded.
CARRIED
The Acting Secretary, Com. M. Costa, moved:-
"That the minutes as circulated be adopted."
Com. J. Bennett seconded.
CARRIED
CREDENTIALS:-
From The Education Group - appointing B. Sexton in place of J. Hennessy.
APOLOGIES:-
Apologies were received and accepted from:- P. Ryan, S. Moait, M. Williamson, J. Hennessy, M. Williamson, A. Peters, M. Lennon, N. Steer, G. Gregory, M. Larsen, A. Ferguson, F. Belan, R. Collison, S. Hutchins, C. Thomson, J. Morris, J. Merchant, B. Tubner, M. O'Connell, W. Wooldridge, L. Usher, R. Plain, G. Donnelly, I. West, J. Garrett.
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