Meeting held : 20 August 1998
Chair of Meeting: The President, Com. J. Whelan
LABOR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
LABOR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
MEETING HELD 20TH AUGUST, 1998 IN THE
TRADES HALL AUDITORIUM
AT 4 GOULBURN STREET, SYDNEY, AT 6.06 P.M.
PRESENT:- M. Costa (Secretary), J. Robertson (Assistant Secretary), M. Lennon, N. Steer (Executive Officers).
The Secretary, Com. M. Costa, moved:-
"That the minutes as circulated be received."
Com. B. Robson seconded.
CARRIED
The Secretary, Com. M. Costa, moved:-
"That the minutes as circulated be adopted."
Com. S. Moait seconded.
CARRIED
CREDENTIALS:-
For this evening's meeting:
From The Australian Services Union, New South Wales Clerical and Administrative Branch - appointing F. Hancock, T. Wheelwright.
From The Textile Clothing & Footwear Union of Australia - appointing K. Price, D. Tozer, S. Davies in place of J. Isaacs, J. Owen, M. Brown.
Moved and seconded:-
"That the credentials be received
and the delegates welcomed."
APOLOGIES:
Apologies were received and accepted from: G. Gregory, B. King, G. Sergeant, B. Hawkins, G. Donnelly, G. Dwyer.
GUEST SPEAKER:
The President, Com. J. Whelan, advised Council that Professor Ron Callus from ACIRRT would be addressing the Labor Council meeting tonight as a guest speaker and invited Com. Callus to address delegates.
Com. Callus presented to Labor Council the results of information collected by ACIRRT through the ADAM data base. He advised Council of the average annual wage increase through current agreements, specifically New South Wales, being 4.3% and the National average being 4.4%.
Com. Callus said the starkest finding of the research was the differences that emerged when comparing union and non-union registered agreements. The findings showed a clear union, non-union divide emerging in New South Wales when it came to enterprise bargaining. In relation to wage outcomes, the average annual wage increase for union agreements was 4.5% and for non union agreements it was only 3.6%.
Com. Callus stated that more dramatic differences are highlighted when comparing issues associated with working time. The findings suggest that where management could negotiate without unions involved in the process, major changes were made to working time entitlements such as standard working hours greater than 38 hours per week and overtime paid at single rates. He advised that it is clear that unions had a definite influence on the outcomes of enterprise bargaining to the benefit of workers.
In thanking Com. Callus for his address to Council, the Secretary, Com. M. Costa, said it was great to receive such positive news about unions and that the information provided by Com. Callus would be circulated to all unions so they might consider using aspects of the research in future recruitment campaigns and union journals to highlight the benefits of being a union member.
Com. M. Want seconded.
CARRIED BY ACCLAMATION
EXECUTIVE BUSINESS
CORRESPONDENCE
1. From the Shop, Distributive & Allied Employees' Association - advising that the State Government had, via the Banks and Bank Holidays Act 1912, substituted the Boxing Day holiday on Saturday, 26 December, 1998, with Monday, 28 December, 1998. The Association was concerned with the impact this change would have on its members and in particular, the effect such a change had on the integrity of the Christmas holiday break for many shop assistants in New South Wales. The SDA advised that Boxing Day fell on Saturday, 26 December in 1992 and the State Government had granted an additional public holiday on 28 December, 1992. The Association stated the view that this arrangement should be applied in 1998 and requested Labor Council arrange a meeting with the Minister for Industrial Relations, The Hon. J. Shaw, QC, MLC, to discuss this proposition.
Com. Costa moved Executive Recommendation:
"That the correspondence be received and Labor Council seek a meeting with the Minister for Industrial Relations, The Hon. J. Shaw, QC, MLC."
Com. M. McTigue seconded.
CARRIED
2. From the Transport Workers' Union of Australia - advising that the Union, and its members, had achieved a number of significant outcomes as a consequence of action taken in support of a wage claim for the private bus industry and a move to improve safety on private buses. With regard to the wage claim, the Union advised that it had been successful in implementing an interim Award which provided all permanent private bus drivers with a $20 per week increase, as well as an increase in superannuation, which included casuals. In respect to safety, the Union advised that the Minister for Roads and Transport, The Hon. C. Scully, MP, had announced that security surveillance cameras were to be installed in all private buses in the metropolitan areas of NSW by the Sydney 2000 Olympics. This announcement followed an extensive survey of private bus drivers by the TWU that found cameras were the number one safety measure they wanted introduced. The Union thanked the PTU for its support in this campaign and commended the actions of the Minister for Roads and Transport in supporting and acting on its calls for improved safety.
Com. Costa moved Executive Recommendation:
"That the correspondence be received and Labor Council congratulate the TWU on the successful negotiation of the wage and superannuation increases.
Further, Labor Council congratulate the Minister for Roads and Transport in announcing the installation of security cameras in all private buses by the 2000 Olympics."
Com. N. Lewocki seconded.
CARRIED
3. From the Electrical Trades Union of Australia, NSW Branch - advising of its decision to contribute $5,000.00 to the recently established NUW Family Support Fund and encouraging all Labor Council affiliates to do the same. The Union said the issues confronting the workers involved in the struggle at Davids Holdings, particularly the sacking of workers engaged in protected industrial action and the Company's attempts to increase the level of casual employment, were all issues that had the potential to flow on to workers in all industries.
Com. Costa moved Executive Recommendation:
"That the correspondence be received, the Union thanked for its financial assistance and Labor Council establish a NUW/Davids Family Support Fund, with a Labor Council contribution of $5,000.
Further, all affiliates be encouraged to support the Fund and Labor Council thanks those unions which have already contributed to the Fund."
Com. B. Riordan seconded.
Com. F. Belan spoke to the resolution.
Com. P. McClelland spoke to the resolution.
CARRIED
4. From the Treasurer of Australia, The Hon. P. Costello, MP - briefly outlining the reasons why the Federal Government sought to implement its proposed tax reforms in the lead up to the next federal election.
From the Australian Services Union, New South Wales Clerical and Administrative Branch - advising that at its most recent monthly meeting of members, the Federal Government's new taxation system was discussed. The meeting concluded with a resolution voicing its strong opposition to the Federal Governments proposal, noting ACOSS's position condemning the tax package as unfair, unbalanced and unacceptable. The Union further advised that a member had given a detailed analysis of his position believing he would be $11.00 per week worse off under the Howard/Costello proposal. The Union requested Labor Council raise these matters with a view to strongly supporting a review of the taxation system whilst strenuously rejecting the Federal Government's tax review. It further requested Labor Council endeavour to bring to the membership of all unions, the union movements rejection of the use of taxpayers' money to support the political message of the Liberal/National Party.
Com. Costa moved Executive Recommendation:
"That the correspondence be received and Labor Council totally rejects the Howard/Costello tax hoax.
Further, we endorse the ACTU Executive Decision on tax reform."
Com. M. Want seconded.
CARRIED
5. From the Federated Municipal, Administrative, Clerical and Services Union, MEU, New South Wales Branch - writing in respect to a report by Towers Perrin, commissioned by the NSW Treasury, to examine and determine ownership of a.million. The Union said that the report had identified three options for dealing with the surplus and the Labor Council had advised, in correspondence to The Hon. MR Egan, MLC, that the surplus belonged to the members and should be distributed to them on a equitable basis. The Union requested that Labor Council approach the Minister to expedite the issue, as a matter or urgency, and a report back be provided to the Public Sector Consultative Committee.
Com. Costa moved Executive Recommendation:
"That the correspondence be received and Labor Council approach the Treasurer with a view to resolving the matter expeditiously."
Com. J. Merchant seconded.
CARRIED
6. From the Minister for Agriculture and Minister for Land and Water Conservation, The Hon. R. Amery, MP - seeking a nominee from the Labor Council to the Meat Industry Authority under provisions of Section 45(1)(d) of the Meat Industry Act 1978. The Minister advised that the current appointee under this Section was Mr TR Hannan of the Australasian Meat Industry Employees Union whose four year term would expire on 31st October, 1998. The Minister requested that Labor Council's nominee be submitted by 30th September, 1998.
Com. Costa moved Executive Recommendation:
"That the correspondence be received and Labor Council nominate Tom Hannan, Secretary of the AMIEU."
Com. B. Robson seconded.
CARRIED
REPORTS:
1. ACTU - Living Wage
The Secretary, Com. M. Costa, reported on the ACTU proposal for a living wage claim 1998/1999 dealt with at the ACTU Executive. He advised the ACTU would lodge a claim with the Australian Industrial Relations Commission seeking a Federal Minimum Wage of $400.00 per week for ordinary time earnings. The increase claimed would be $26.60 per week to apply to all award rates of pay up to and including C7 in the Metal Industry Award and 5% for all classifications at C6 and above.
Com. Costa advised that Labor Council would obviously await the outcome of the National Wage Case and, as had been the norm, assess how the Labor Council would proceed with the State Wage Case.
The Secretary, Com. M. Costa, moved:
"That the report be received."
Com. S. Moait seconded.
CARRIED
The Secretary, Com. M Costa, moved:
"That the report be adopted."
Com. R. Collison seconded.
CARRIED
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
The Secretary, Com. Costa welcomed Comrades Chris Christodoulou and Peter Zangari to Labor Council advising Council that Com. Christodoulou was now engaged as Senior Industrial Officer and would be involved in test cases, such as the State Wage Case.
He further advised that Peter Zangari would be working as Assistant Research Officer in Labor Council's new information centre.
The Secretary, Com. Costa, again advised Council of the Seniors Economic Forum to be held on Tuesday, 1st September, 1998, at 10.30am and encouraged all affiliates to attend.
COUNCIL ADJOURNED AT 6.55 PM
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