Meeting held : 27 August 1998
Chair of Meeting: The Acting President, Com. A. Peters
LABOR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
LABOR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
MEETING HELD 27TH AUGUST, 1998 IN THE
TRADES HALL AUDITORIUM
AT 4 GOULBURN STREET, SYDNEY, AT 6.05 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. M. Want seconded.
CARRIED
The Secretary, Com. M. Costa, moved:-
"That the minutes as circulated be adopted."
Com. J. Bennett seconded.
CARRIED
CREDENTIALS:-
For this evening's meeting:
From The Australian Services Union, New South Wales Clerical and Administrative Branch - appointing F. Hancock.
From The Textile Clothing & Footwear Union of Australia - appointing P. Jones in place of M. Brown.
Moved and seconded:-
"That the credentials be received
and the delegates welcomed."
APOLOGIES:
Apologies were received and accepted from: J. Whelan, G. Gregory, S. Moait, G. Donnelly, G. Dwyer, B. King, J. Garrett, R. Coombs, J. O'Brien.
EXECUTIVE BUSINESS
CORRESPONDENCE
1. From the Australian Council of Trade Unions - advising that the National Competition Principles Agreement listed matters to be taken into account in reviews under the agreement. The National Competition Council listed, in its April 1997 Legislation Review Compendium, the review schedule of Commonwealth, States and Territories Occupational Health and Safety legislation. Other legislation listed for review, or proposed review, included the NSW Dangerous Goods Act 1975 and other occupational health and safety legislation on chemicals, pesticides, waste, industrial relations, environment and compensation. The ACTU advised that it was important for unions to be involved in the reviews throughout Australia. It further urged for Labor Council to raise, with the State Government, the need to ensure that legislation and regulation reviews, under the National Competition Principles Agreement, which relate to occupational health and safety provide for:
a) opportunities for input by unions and other organisations;
b) involvement by government occupational health and safety agencies; and
c) account, where relevant, of government legislation and policies related to occupational health and safety.
Com. Costa moved Executive Recommendation:
"That the correspondence be received and referred to the Labor Council Occupational Health & Safety Committee."
Com. R. Plain seconded.
CARRIED
2. From the Communications, Electrical & Postal Union, Postal & Telecommunications Branch - advising Council that it had been involved in a campaign to stop the closure of post offices throughout New South Wales which would lead to job losses, higher postal charges and poorer service. The Union said that currently, Australia Post used the profits it made from big business customers to subsidise postal services and that the Federal Coalition Government was seeking to end this policy by providing big business with cheaper services through the process of deregulation. The Union sought Labor Council's support for a series of rallies it had arranged and requested that affiliates be encouraged to attend.
Com. Costa moved Executive Recommendation:
"That the correspondence be received and Labor Council offer its support to the union's campaign.
Further, that the dates of the rallies be circulated to all affiliates encouraging them to attend."
Com. B. Riordan seconded.
CARRIED
3. From the Construction, Forestry Mining & Energy Union, Construction & General Division - advising that the Howard Government had, as of the 1st July, 1998, reclassified building workers as seasonal workers and said the outcome of this would be that building workers would have to wait 26 weeks before being eligible for unemployment benefits. The Union stated this would not be accepted by building workers, or the CFMEU, and sought Labor Council's endorsement of a campaign of protest action culminating in strike action if the Howard Government did not reverse this policy.
Com. Costa moved Executive Recommendation:
"That the correspondence be received and Labor Council offer its support and assistance to the Union's campaign."
Com. D. Reiss seconded.
CARRIED
4. From the Australian Services Union, New South Wales Clerical and Administrative Branch - firstly, commending the federal Australian Labor Party on its announcement of a policy of spending $30m creating jobs for young people in the federal public service. The policy included the federal ALP cutting back on outsourcing and applying a public interest test for any outsourcing or privatisation of government assets or services. Secondly, the Union raised the announcement, this week, of a $3 billion profit for Telstra and its move to retrench a further 2000 workers. The ASU asked why there should be retrenchments, given this huge profit, and where the profit dollars were going? The Union believed there should be a parliamentary inquiry into the adverse impact - socially and economically - on retrenched workers and the adverse impact on the community at large in having to supplement the retrenched workers.
Com. Costa moved Executive Recommendation:
"That the correspondence be received and Labor Council commend the ALP policy initiative on the creation of jobs for young people.
Further, that Labor Council approach the Shadow Employment Spokesperson, Mr Martin Ferguson, and seek to have an inquiry established into the adverse impact, both socially and economically, resulting from redundancy and downsizing."
Com. A. McDonald seconded and spoke to the resolution.
CARRIED
5. From The Australian Workers' Union, Greater New South Wales Branch - advising that it had presented a $10,000 contribution to the National Union of Workers Family Support Fund at a mass meeting of NUW members, at the Granville Bowling Club, on Friday, 21st August, 1998. The AWU said it would continue to morally and financially support the NUW members, and their families involved in this dispute with Davids Holdings, and urged all unions to do the same.
Com. Costa moved Executive Recommendation:
"That the correspondence be received and the AWU thanked for its support and financial assistance, and the NUW be congratulated on its victory in Federal Court.
Further, Labor Council calls on Davids to comply with the order of Justice North."
Com. F. Belan seconded and spoke to the resolution.
CARRIED
6. From the Institute of Senior Educational Administrators of NSW - advising that it currently enjoyed a tax free status and its income was derived from member subscriptions and interest on investments and bank balances. The Institute raised its concern of the impact on its operations if a GST was introduced.
Com. Costa moved Executive Recommendation:
"That the correspondence be received and Labor Council assess the direct impact of the GST on the operations of affiliates.
Further, Labor Council congratulates the Federal Opposition on its tax package, which delivers a fairer tax system without the GST."
Com. J. Hennessy seconded.
CARRIED
7. From the NSW Teachers Federation - requesting Labor Council's support for a variation to the 1996 TAFE Award lodged in the Industrial Relations Commission, seeking improvements to working conditions of TAFE part-time teachers and counsellors. The Federation noted Labor Council's recent statement that the issue of part-time/casual work was increasingly important to the consideration of employment security, career path options and proper remuneration. The Federation advised that it was seeking pro-rata salary and conditions for part-time/casual employees and the offer of permanent part-time or full-time work if they had worked eight hours or more a week, over two or more years. The Federation further requested that Council convey its support of the award to the Premier, The Hon. B. Carr, MP, and the Attorney General, The Hon. J. Shaw, QC, MLC. The Federation said it was important for all unions to support this variation and believed a large expendable workforce in TAFE was not in the best interests of quality education and training.
Com. Costa moved Executive recommendation:
"That the correspondence be received and Labor Council correspond with the Premier, The Hon. B. Carr, MP; the Attorney General and Minister for Industrial Relations, The Hon. J. Shaw, QC, MLC; and the Minister for Education, The Hon. J. Aquilina, MP, detailing support for the Teacher Federation's application."
Com. B. Sexton seconded and spoke to the resolution.
CARRIED
COUNCIL ADJOURNED AT 6.42 PM
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