Meeting held : 22 October 1998
Chair of Meeting: The President, Com. J. Whelan
LABOR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
LABOR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
MEETING HELD 22ND OCTOBER, 1998 IN THE
TRADES HALL AUDITORIUM
AT 4 GOULBURN STREET, SYDNEY, AT 6.10 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. J. Merchant seconded.
CARRIED
The Secretary, Com. M. Costa, moved:-
"That the minutes as circulated be adopted."
Com. M. Want seconded.
CARRIED
CREDENTIALS:
For this evening's meeting:
From Australian Federal Police Association, New South Wales Branch - appointing G. Nichols, M. Kelsey.
From Australian Liquor, Hospitality & Miscellaneous Workers Union, New South Wales Branch - appointing C. Christodoulou.
From Australian Salaried Medical Officers' Federation (New South Wales) - appointing Dr. Koutts.
From Australian Services Union, NSW & ACT (Services) Branch - appointing J. Webster in place of J. Piotrowski.
From Australian Services Union, New South Wales Clerical and Administrative Branch - appointing F. Hancock.
From Construction, Forestry, Mining & Energy Union, Construction & General Division, New South Wales Divisional Branch - appointing V. Vega.
From Finance Sector Union of Australia, NSW/ACT Branch - appointing J. Graham.
From NSW Teachers Federation - appointing C. O'Sheades in place of J. Hennessy.
From The Australian Workers' Union, Greater New South Wales Branch - appointing A. White in place of R. Collison.
From Police Association of New South Wales - appointing A. Wright, A. Whitton, K. Manitta in place of W. Taylor, G. Dunne, M. Burgess.
From Public Service Association of New South Wales - appointing P. McLeay, J. O'Dwyer, L. Harris, B. Robertson, L. Adair.
From The Environmental Health and Building Surveyors' Association of New South Wales - appointing M. Gadiel.
From Textile, Clothing & Footwear Union of Australia - appointing K. Price, P. Jones in place of B. Jenson, M. Brown.
Moved and seconded:-
"That the credentials be received
and the delegates welcomed."
APOLOGIES:
Apologies were received and accepted from: G. Gregory, J. Hennessy, R. Collison, A. Peters, A. Rawlinson, N. Lewocki, G. Donnelly, B. Riordan, B. Plain, B. Pembo, I. West, G. Dwyer.
GUEST SPEAKER:
The President, Com. J. Whelan, welcomed and introduced Mr Tseten Norbu, President of the Tibetan Youth Congress Central Executive Committee, as guest speaker at tonight's Labor Council meeting and invited Com. Norbu to address delegates.
Com. Norbu spoke of the oppression that had taken over his country since the Chinese occupation and advised that Tibet had once been a proud independent nation with its own currency, postage stamps and treaties with surrounding countries.
Com. Norbu advised of the 1.2 million people that had been killed or had died as a result of the Chinese occupation over the last few decades. He said the Chinese had destroyed Tibetan monestries which in turn destroyed educational facilities. He noted that the struggle for freedom is, and will remain, a peaceful one and requested that free thinking people, including trade unionists, around the world support the return of Tibet to its people.
The Secretary, Com. M. Costa, in moving of vote of thanks to Com. Norbu for his address to Council tonight, expressed support for the Tibetan struggle. He said the loss of life and the destruction of Tibetan culture was of great concern to all trade unionists.
Com. Costa wished success to the Tibetan people in their struggle.
Com. J. Merchant seconded.
CARRIED BY ACCLAMATION
EXECUTIVE BUSINESS
CORRESPONDENCE
1. From the Premier's Department of New South Wales - Public Sector Management Office (PSMO) - responding to correspondence from Labor Council regarding superannuation coverage provided by the State Authorities Non-Contributory Superannuation Scheme (SANCS) for public sector employees aged 65 years and over. The PSMO outlined in detail the situation in SANCS with regard to productivity contributions for employees who turned 65 between the years 1988 to 1997. The PSMO advised that the position regarding those employees was currently being reviewed.
Com. Costa moved Executive Recommendation:
"That the correspondence be received and circulated to public sector unions for their information."
Com. J. Lemaire seconded.
CARRIED
2. From WorkCover New South Wales - advising that, on the Premier's direction, WorkCover was chairing an inter-departmental forum for improving the management of work-related violence in public sector agencies. Labor Council's Occupational Health, Safety, Workers' Compensation and Rehabilitation Co-ordinator, Ms. Mary Yaager, had been liaising with WorkCover over union participation in the forum. WorkCover further advised that all participating agencies had undergone an audit of their OHSR systems for managing violence, as a benchmarking exercise to establish what controls existed and how well they worked. WorkCover invited a representative from Labor Council to the next forum meeting which would consider the audit findings and set the forum's future work program. Copies of the audit report would be provided to the participating unions for review and discussion with the agencies they cover.
Com. Costa moved Executive Recommendation:
"That the correspondence be received and referred to a meeting of public sector unions."
Com. P. Remfrey seconded.
CARRIED
3. From the Transport Workers' Union of Australia, New South Wales Branch - advising Council that the New South Wales Government was expected to make an announcement shortly on the quotas for logging and conservation for the State's South East Forests. The Union stated that it could not emphasis enough how important this decision was for a region that, over the years, had been devastated by job losses. The TWU said that it had worked in co-operation with other unions, including the CFMEU and the AWU, as well as Labor Council, to ensure the Government was fully aware of the importance in developing a balanced outcome with the emphasis on job security. The Union requested Labor Council facilitate an urgent meeting between the Premier, The Hon. R. Carr, MP, and affiliated unions with members working in the South East timber industry to discuss the decision and its consequences.
Com. Costa moved Executive Recommendation:
"That the correspondence be received and Labor Council seek an urgent meeting with the Premier to discuss this matter."
Com. A. Whale seconded and spoke to the resolution.
CARRIED
4. From the Premier's Department of New South Wales - Public Sector Management Office (PSMO) - advising Council that the Public Employment Office had undertaken some work on the development of a policy and guidelines for the use of communication devices such as telephones and the internet. The PSMO said that the aim was to encourage public sector agencies to develop internal policies that will help staff meet their responsibilities and obligations when making use of employer-owned communication devices. The PSMO attached a copy of the draft policy and guidelines for Labor Council's consideration and comment.
Com. Costa moved Executive Recommendation:
"That the correspondence be received and a meeting of public sector unions be convened to consider the draft policy and guidelines."
Com. B. Jardine seconded.
CARRIED
5. From the NSW Workers Compensation Advisory Council - seeking nominations from unions and industry associations for representatives to participate on Industry Reference Groups, whose role is to develop industry specific strategies to improve injury prevention, injury management and workers compensation outcomes, and to give practical advice to workers and employers. The Council said that the aim was to establish models for best practice to assist industries develop safer workplaces and lower workers compensation costs. The Council invited Labor Council to submit nominations for appointment to an Industry Reference Group.
Com. Costa moved Executive Recommendation:
"That the correspondence be received and Labor Council circulate nomination forms to affiliates with a return date of Friday, 30 October, 1998.
Further, that nominations then be referred to a meeting of Labor Council's Occupational Health & Safety Committee."
Com. M. Want seconded.
CARRIED
Com. M. Yaager supplemented with a brief report.
6. From Integral Energy Chief Executive Officer, Mr Alex Walker - advising Council that Integral Energy had been short-listed as a possible bidder for the purchase of the Melbourne-based electricity supplier, CitiPower. The Chief Executive outlined reasons why Integral Energy thought the purchase of CitiPower would be beneficial to its customers, in particular he emphasized the need for Integral Energy to find ways to meet increasing competition pressures. Mr Walker outlined some of the background of Citipower and stated that Integral Energy would be pleased to discuss the matter with the Labor Council.
Com. Costa moved Executive Recommendation:
"That the correspondence be received and referred to a meeting of electricity distribution unions and then to a meeting of affiliates."
Com. W. Wooldridge seconded.
CARRIED
7. From The Health and Research Employees' Association of New South Wales - advising that as the ACTU had launched its Anti Stress Day today, it wished to bring to Council's attention the pressures that members of the Ambulance Service are under on a daily basis. The Union said that work related stress had taken a toll on many of its members, with one committing suicide and three others attempting suicide. The Association requested Labor Council convene a meeting, as a matter of urgency, to discuss ways that the union movement, as a whole, could assist in the prevention of work related stress.
Com. Costa moved Executive recommendation:
"That the correspondence be received and referred to the Labor Council's Occupational Health & Safety Committee."
Com. H. White seconded.
CARRIED
REPORTS:
1. Currawong Proposal
The Secretary, Com. M. Costa, reported that he had received correspondence from the Transport Workers' Union requesting that the proposed Special Meeting, to consider the lease of Currawong, to be deferred for a period of two weeks to allow further consideration of the issue.
Com. Costa said that he supported the TWU's request for the deferral and gave a comprehensive report on the Currawong proposal, including details of the proposed lessee, Corporate Renaissance and the changes they sought to make to the site's facilities. These included continued access for training by TUTA and also an allocation of a set number of room nights to be made available to those who wished to holiday at Currawong.
Com. Costa stated that he thought the proposal was a very good outcome for the Labor Council and had come about as a result of extensive negotiations with Corporate Renaissance. He said it was to be remembered that despite the best efforts of many people, Currawong continued to lose money and it was incumbent upon him as Secretary of the Labor Council to find ways to more effectively use the resource, both for the Labor Council and the broader trade union movement.
Com. Costa advised that he would hold further discussions with all interested parties over the coming two weeks.
The Secretary, Com. M. Costa, moved:
"That the report, including the request from the Transport Workers' Union to defer the vote on the Currawong proposal for a further two weeks, be received."
Com. B. Harris seconded.
CARRIED
The Secretary, Com. M. Costa, moved:
"That the report be adopted."
Com. C. Bosworth seconded.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
Delegate D Bell asked if the Rules had been complied with in relation to notification to delegates of the Special Meeting.
The Secretary, M Costa stated that to his knowledge the Rules had been complied with in full with regard to notification.
COUNCIL ADJOURNED AT 7.11 PM
About Unions NSW
