Meeting held : 25 June 1998
Chair of Meeting: The Vice President, Com. A. Peters
LABOR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
MEETING HELD 25TH JUNE, 1998 IN THE
TRADES HALL AUDITORIUM
AT 4 GOULBURN STREET, SYDNEY, AT 6.05 P.M.
PRESENT:- M. Costa (Secretary), J. Robertson (Assistant Secretary), N. Steer (Executive Officer).
The Secretary, Com. M. Costa, moved:-
"That the minutes as circulated be received."
Com. N. Lewocki seconded.
CARRIED
The Secretary, Com. M. Costa, moved:-
"That the minutes as circulated be adopted."
Com. J. Merchant seconded.
CARRIED
CREDENTIALS:-
For this evening's meeting:
From The Australian Services Union, New South Wales Clerical and Administrative Branch - appointing F. Hancock.
From Construction Forestry Mining & Energy Union, Construction & General Division - appointing J. Lennox, S. Dixon, S. McQueen, N. Liras, E. Clark in place of P. McClelland, B. Keeffe, C. Bates, G. Childs, D. Reiss.
From Electrical Trades Union of Australia, NSW Branch - appointing M. Murphy in place of B. Riordan.
From New South Wales Nurses' Association - appointing K. Davis in place of M. Neilson.
From Textile Clothing & Footwear Union of Australia - appointing S. Davies in place of J. Isaacs.
APOLOGIES:-
Apologies were received and accepted from: J. Whelan, M. Lennon, G. Gregory, S. Moait, L. Darnley, P. Ryan, B. King, G. Dwyer, M. Ellery, B. Tubner, J. Hennessy, B. Plain, A. Rawlinson.
EXECUTIVE BUSINESS
CORRESPONDENCE:
1. From the Construction Forestry Mining & Energy Union, Construction & General Division - calling upon Labor Council to support building workers across Europe who are fighting to ban asbestos from the building industry. The Union advised that UCATT (UK Building Workers Union) had launched a campaign of industrial and political action to ban asbestos. Canada is one of the worlds biggest producers/exporters of asbestos and is retaliating against a number of European Governments who have banned asbestos. The Canadian Government announced that it was taking France to the World Trade Organisation in its dispute over the ban of asbestos. The CFMEU called upon Labor Council and affiliates to send letters of protest to the Canadian Government and letters of solidarity to UCATT.
Com. Costa moved Executive Recommendation:
"That the correspondence be received and Labor Council correspond with UCATT supporting their campaign and write to the Canadian Government protesting against their actions in the strongest possible terms."
Com. A. Ferguson seconded.
CARRIED
2. From the Australian Council of Trade Unions - ensuring Council was aware that a draft agreement had been reached between the MUA and Patrick Stevedores on the industrial settlement of the maritime dispute. The ACTU advised that the proposals were due to be considered by MUA members this week and therefore donations to the MUA Families Support Fund should be discontinued until further notice. The ACTU said that its Executive would need to consider the outcome of the dispute and the future of the Trade Union Industrial Campaign Fund. Affiliates would be kept informed of developments.
Com. Costa moved Executive Recommendation:
"That the correspondence be received and noted. Further, Labor Council congratulate the MUA on the negotiated settlement with Patricks."
Com. B. Robson seconded and spoke to the resolution.
CARRIED
3. From the Australian Workers' Union, Greater New South Wales Branch - requesting Labor Council's endorsement of a peaceful protest assembly established at the Bliss-Fox Manufacturing Wetherill Park site. The Union advised that the peaceful protest assembly had been established as a result of a dispute over the Company's refusal to comply with the terms of its existing redundancy agreement, and its intention to introduce workers under individual contracts on to the site. The Union said that Labor Council's assistance would be greatly appreciated.
Com. Costa moved Executive Recommendation:
"That the correspondence be received and Labor Council liaise with the union to determine the assistance required."
Com. C. Bosworth seconded and spoke to the resolution.
CARRIED
4. From the Australian Municipal, Administrative, Clerical and Services Union, MEU, New South Wales Branch - advising Labor Council that the State Government had announced a review of the NSW Local Government Act. The review was due to commence this month, and be completed by August with the intention of bringing the amendments before parliament during the present parliamentary term. The MEU proposed reforms in several key areas:
- Redefining the organisation restructure provisions to protect employees from the arbitrary redesign and spilling of positions.
- Returning senior staff to the industrial arbitration system.
- Amendment of the appointment and promotion provisions to promote career pathing.
- Requirement for public comment via the publication of a management plan where Council propose the tender of a service that may have a significant effect on existing employees.
- Amendment of the tendering regulations identifying pre-qualification criteria for potential tenderers.
The MEU sought the support of the Labor Council of New South Wales and affiliated unions in pursuing these reforms.
Com. Costa moved Executive Recommendation:
"That the correspondence be received and circulated to Local Government Unions for their information and support."
Com. J. Merchant seconded.
CARRIED
5. From The Hon. J.W. Shaw, QC, MLC, New South Wales Minister for Industrial Relations - drawing Labor Council's attention to the Workplace Video Surveillance Act which passed through the New South Wales Parliament this week. The Minister said he believed the legislation was a major advance for working people in that it placed controls over the secret filming of employees and outlawed surveillance in certain areas like washrooms and toilets and for the monitoring of work performance. The Minister thanked Labor Council and its affiliates for their assistance in the development of this package.
Com. Costa moved Executive Recommendation:
"That the correspondence be received and Labor Council congratulate the Government on putting in place legislation to protect workers and their privacy in the workplace."
Com. I. West seconded.
CARRIED
6. From the Construction Forestry Mining & Energy Union, Construction & General Division - advising Labor Council that the Union was presently in dispute with a number of employers in the mobile crane industry. The Union said that they were presently in the process of renegotiating agreements and had reached settlement with a number of companies. However, some small companies were adopting anti-union tactics and had locked out workers until they had agreed to terms less than the claims democratically endorsed by a mass meeting of workers. The Union sought Labor Council endorsement of this dispute.
Com. Costa moved Executive Recommendation:
"That the correspondence be received and Labor Council seek to assist the union in the resolution of this dispute."
Com. S. Dixon seconded and spoke to the resolution.
CARRIED
7. From the Transport Workers' Union of Australia - requesting support from the Labor Council and its affiliates in calling on the Federal Government to immediately instigate a detailed and ongoing research program into the work patterns of people on Working Holiday Visas and the impact they had on the Australian job market. The Union said that the Government must reduce the number of working holiday visas to protect Australian jobs. The TWU also called on the Federal Government to show some initiative and make use of the increasing pool of school leavers with Japanese language skills to be provided with an effective tourism training program that may go some way in denting the record levels of youth unemployment in this country.
Com. Costa moved Executive Recommendation:
"That the correspondence be received and Labor Council correspond with the Federal Government seeking an investigation on the patterns and effects of tourists working on holiday visas and the impact on the Australian job market.
Com. T. Sheldon seconded and spoke to the resolution.
CARRIED
8. From the Shop. Distributive & Allied Employees' Association, NSW Branch - expressing concern about the subsidies apprentices receive through the Vocational Training Assistance Scheme. The Union detailed the subsidies scale as follows:
- $11.50 per night accommodation
- 8 cents per kilometre travelled outside the metropolitan area (a flat rate applying to bus, train and private car travel)
- A State Transit Travel concession pass for travel within the metropolitan area.
The SDA said that these allowances had not been adjusted since July 1994 and advised that the $11.50 per night allowance in no way covered reasonable expenses which would be incurred. The Union expressed its concern that reasonable travel and accommodation expenses were not being adequately reimbursed and asked that Labor Council convene a meeting of interested affiliates with the appropriate New South Wales Government Minister to address this issue.
Com. Costa moved Executive Recommendation:
"That the correspondence be received and Labor Council, in the first instance, convene a meeting of interested affiliates and then arrange a meeting with the Minister for Education."
Com. G. Donnelly seconded.
CARRIED
9. From the National Union of Workers, New South Wales Branch - advising of a dispute with Davids Holdings and detailing the chronology of events that had led to the current situation that existed at Davids operations in Blacktown, Silverwater and Fyshwick, in the ACT. The Union detailed a series of proceedings that had been ongoing before both the Australian Industrial Relations Commission and the Industrial Relations Commission of New South Wales in regards to its current dispute. The Union advised that the matter was ongoing and sought the assistance of the Labor Council.
Com. Costa moved Executive Recommendation:
"That the correspondence be received and Labor Council support and assist the NUW in this dispute. Further, a meeting of other affiliates likely to be effected be convened."
Com. A. Joseph seconded and spoke to the resolution.
CARRIED
ANNOUNCEMENT:
1. The Secretary, Com. M. Costa, reminded delegates of a Labor Council organised rally for Wednesday, 1st July, 1998, commencing at 10.00am, to be held in Sydney Trades Hall Auditorium, Crn. Goulburn and Dixon Streets, Sydney.
Com. Costa encouraged all unions to have delegates in attendance to ensure that a strong message is sent to the Howard Federal Government in regards to the award paring back process.
COUNCIL ADJOURNED AT 6.25 P.M.
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