Meeting held : 30 April 1998
Chair of Meeting: The President, Com. J. Whelan
LABOR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
MEETING HELD 30TH APRIL, 1998 IN THE
TRADES HALL AUDITORIUM
AT CORNER GOULBURN AND SUSSEX STREETS, SYDNEY, AT 6.06 P.M.
PRESENT:- M. Costa (Acting Secretary), M. Lennon, N. Steer, G. Gregory, J. Robertson (Executive Officers).
The Acting Secretary, Com. M. Costa, moved:-
"That the minutes as circulated be received."
Com. B. Jardine seconded.
CARRIED
The Acting Secretary, Com. M. Costa, moved:-
"That the minutes as circulated be adopted."
Com. A. Casey seconded.
CARRIED
CREDENTIALS:-
From The Australian Services Union, New South Wales Clerical and Administrative Branch - appointing P. Sekhon, F. Hancock.
From The Police Association of New South Wales - appointing M. Spring in place of W. Taylor.
From The Public Service Association of New South Wales - appointing P. McLeay in place of J. Good.
Moved and seconded:-
"That the credentials be received
and the delegates welcomed."
APOLOGIES:-
Apologies were received and accepted from: P. Sams, G. Dwyer, B. Robson, J. Hennessy, A. Peters, M. Ellery, L. Darnley, S. McManus, G. Sargeant, J. Cahill, M. O'Sullivan.
MOTION OF CONDOLENCE:-
The Acting Secretary, Com. M. Costa, advised it was his sad duty to report the passing of Com. Chris McGrane formerly of the Professional Radio Employees Institute. Com. McGrane joined the ALP in 1936 at 16 years of age. He became the General Secretary of the Australian Postal Workers Union during very troubled times and later became General Secretary of the Professional Radio Employees Institute. Com. McGrane was a delegate to Labor Council and to the ACTU. He held many positions within the ALP and in 1990 was granted Life Membership. Com. Costa moved a Motion of Condolence to the family and friends of the late Com. Chris McGrane.
Com. V. Higgins seconded.
CARRIED BY DELEGATES
OBSERVING A MINUTES' SILENCE
EXECUTIVE BUSINESS
CORRESPONDENCE:
1. From the Federated Brick, Tile and Pottery Industry Union of Australia, New South Wales Branch - referring to the recent meeting of Labor Council where an item of correspondence from the CFMEU, relating to the amalgamation of the BTPU, was tabled and the resulting motion which was passed effectively disaffiliating the BTPU. It advised that the New South Wales Branch had not yet amalgamated with the CFMEU and the action had been taken without the knowledge or consent of the New South Wales branch of the BTPU. The Union requested that Labor Council do not take any action to disaffiliate the Union until requested by the Union to do so.
Com. Costa moved Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and that the continued affiliation of the BTPU be noted and Labor Council records be adjusted accordingly."
Com. A. Sawchuk seconded.
CARRIED
2. From the Australian Services Union, New South Wales Clerical and Administrative Branch - referring to recent comments made by Mark Patterson of the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and calling on Labor Council to strongly condemn the remarks. Mr Patterson had made the comment "This is a lesson for them", which was advising fellow employers how to go about sacking a workforce if they refuse to negotiate a reduction in their wages and conditions. It requested Labor Council strongly condemn Mr Patterson for his attack on all Australians as the comments reflected a mean spirited man who sees labour as just another commodity to be purchased off the supermarket shelves.
And from the Australian Municipal, Administrative, Clerical and Services Union, MEU, New South Wales Branch - advising of a resolution unanimously carried at its recent meeting between Officers of the Local Government Association, the Municipal Employees' Union, Health Surveyors and Local Government Engineers to discuss industrial relations in the Local Government industry, in the following terms;
"The combined Unions in Local Government join with the Local Government Association of New South Wales in acknowledging the excellent working relationship that exists between the employers organisation and employees in Local Government in New South Wales. All parties reaffirm their commitment to continue with this relationship and the desire to work co-operatively on a reform process within the Local Government industry. The parties believe that the benefits will accrue to employees, employers and the communities that they all serve by maintaining a positive industrial relationship. The combined Unions in conjunction with the Local Government Association reinforce this partnership and shared responsibilities."
This resolution was in complete opposition to the confrontationalist approach of Patricks in the wharf dispute.
And from the Australian Services Union, New South Wales Clerical and Administrative Branch - concerning an article written by Jim Macken, a former member of the New South Wales Industrial Relations Commission concerning the need for an effective arbitration system to be in place in order to deal with industrial disputes, particularly like that of the MUA type involving Patrick Stevedores. The current Coalition Government had adopted a position of watering down the role of the AIRC, therefore preventing an independent umpire from quickly intervening in a dispute and bringing the parties to the negotiating table. The Union's view was that the role of an independent umpire should be resinated.
Com. Costa moved Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and that Labor Council condemn the ACCI and other employer organisations for their support of the underhanded confrontationalist approach employed by Patricks in the wharf dispute. Further, Labor Council notes the resolution from employers and unions in the local government industry and congratulates them on setting an excellent example of co-operative industrial relations which is serving to enhance the reform process. Finally, Labor Council reaffirms its strong support for an effective arbitration system as a means of resolving disputes."
Com. A. McDonald seconded and spoke to the resolution.
Com. J. Garrett spoke to the resolution.
CARRIED
3. From the Australian Services Union, New South Wales Clerical and Administrative Branch - advising that at its recent Branch Council meeting, a resolution was passed, in the following terms;
"Branch Council views with concern the actions of the media and government in placing the blame for some injuries and deaths in the Community on DOCs workers.
These Workers, like the police, are frequently called upon to enter into an abusive situation wherein all hope of a conciliatory settlement has long since passed. To blame these dedicated workers for inadequacies of a society that is all too frequently prepared to take no responsibility, either as individuals or collectively is unfair. Further, it is an exercise in ensuring such workers either leave the system or lose all sense of compassion and self worth.
As a community we can ill afford such loss. Dedicated compassionate workers will always be required to look after those who cannot help themselves but our Society must also demand of the community and individuals that they recognise their own responsibilities and the consequences of their own actions or inaction.
It is all too convenient to find scapegoats in the workers who are frequently consulted or directed at the eleventh hour.
The Government and the media should look beyond the DOCs workers and ask the question -
"Who was really responsible for the situation in the first place ?"
You can bet your boots it wasn't the DOCs workers.
Branch Council calls on the Government and the community to promote a sense of responsibility for ones actions."
It called on Labor Council to support the Union's resolution and advise the Government accordingly.
Com. Costa moved Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and Labor Council make appropriate representations to the State Government in support of DOCs workers."
Com. M. Want seconded and spoke to the resolution.
CARRIED
Com. B. Jardine moved an addendum:
"Thanking the Australian Services Union, New South Wales Clerical and Administrative Branch for raising these issues."
Com. A. McDonald seconded.
The addendum was accepted.
CARRIED
4. From the New South Wales Department of Industrial Relations - inviting a Labor Council Officer to be a member of the Steering Committee for the Pay Equity Strategy - Women from Non-English Speaking Backgrounds Case Study. As part of the ongoing work of the Government's Pay Equity Strategy, the Women's Equity Bureau had commissioned the Australian Centre for Industrial Relations Research and Training to undertake a further case study to focus on pay equity issues for women from Non-English Speaking Backgrounds working in the confectionary industry. The role of the Steering Committee is to monitor the progress and to provide assistance and advice to researchers.
Com. Costa moved Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and Labor Council nominate Sophie Cotsis from the ALHMWU Liquor and Hospitality Division at is representative on the Steering Committee."
Com. J. Bennett seconded.
CARRIED
5. From the Women in Super Network - requesting the support of Labor Council for a fun run it was holding in May to raise awareness, and funds, for breast cancer research. The Network aimed to encourage people generally, but women in particular, to learn about superannuation and to save their money. Unfortunately, many women do not reach retirement because they die of breast cancer. The Network had organised a fun run called the "Race Abreast against Breast Cancer" to be held in the Sydney Domain on Sunday, May 17, 1998. It requested permission to distribute entry forms and posters to all unions.
Com. Costa moved Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and that Labor Council agree to assist in the promotion of the Fun Run to raise money for breast cancer research."
Com. J. Lemaire seconded.
CARRIED
REPORT:-
1. SAFETY NET REVIEW / PAY EQUITY
The Acting Secretary, Com. M. Costa, reported on the Safety Net Review and said that an application would be made to bring on the State Wage Case and that Com. Sams would comment more fully on the matter at next week's meeting of Labor Council.
Executive Officer, Com. G. Gregory, outlined details of the Pay Equity Inquiry and said that it had about another month to run. Com. Gregory said that the likely outcome would have to be changes to the wage fixing principles.
The Acting Secretary, Com. M. Costa, moved:-
"That the report be received."
Com. R. McConville seconded.
CARRIED
The Acting Secretary, Com. M. Costa, moved:-
"That the report be adopted."
Com. P. Remfrey seconded.
CARRIED
COUNCIL ADJOURNED AT 6.52 P.M.
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