Meeting held : 29 October 1998
Chair of Meeting: The President, Com. J. Whelan
LABOR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
LABOR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
MEETING HELD 29TH OCTOBER, 1998 IN THE
TRADES HALL AUDITORIUM
AT 4 GOULBURN STREET, SYDNEY, AT 6.09 P.M.
PRESENT:- M. Costa (Secretary), M. Lennon, G. Gregory (Executive Officers).
The Secretary, Com. M. Costa, moved:-
"That the minutes as circulated be received."
Com. B. Harris seconded.
CARRIED
The Secretary, Com. M. Costa, moved:-
"That the minutes as circulated be adopted."
Com. W. Wooldridge seconded.
CARRIED
CREDENTIALS:
For this evening's meeting:
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, E. Rivera, H. English in place of G. Childs, P. McClelland, C. Bates.
From Finance Sector Union of Australia, NSW/ACT Branch - appointing J. Graham.
From Public Service Association of New South Wales - appointing P. McLeay, J. O'Dwyer, T. O'Dwyer, B. Robertson.
From Textile Clothing & Footwear Union of Australia - appointing P. Jones, K. Price in place of M. Brown, B. Tubner.
Moved and seconded:-
"That the credentials be received
and the delegates welcomed."
APOLOGIES:
Apologies were received and accepted from: J. Robertson, L. Darnley, B. Plain, M. Williamson, C. Read, A. Peters, K. Campbell.
GUEST SPEAKER:
The President, Com. J. Whelan, welcomed and introduced Mr Shane Withington as tonight's guest speaker and invited Mr Withington to address delegates.
Mr Withington addressed the meeting regarding his concerns about the proposal to lease Currawong to Corporate Renaissance. He stated that the site had a long history as a holiday location for New South Wales workers and for this reason alone, it should be retained in the hands of the trade union movement.
Mr Withington believed that there was no way the Labor Council should lease this facility to an overseas organisation. Whatever else occurs, he said that the facility should remain in Australian hands. He said that the Friends of Currawong were developing a plan to retain the site in the hands of the Labor Council and that the plan would be a good one that would ensure Currawong remains a viable operation. He stated that this would be an appropriate way to go as it was the Australian way to go.
Mr Withington thanked Labor Council for the opportunity to speak tonight and encouraged all delegates to vote against the proposal when it came to Council next week.
Ms Marylin Dodkin, who is presently writing a history on the Labor Council leaders, also addressed the meeting on Currawong. Ms Dodkin gave a background as to the history of the Currawong purchase by Labor Council and stated that after Labor Council had looked at a number of possible sites for a holiday facility for workers, it had decided on purchasing Currawong in 1949 for a sum of £10,000.
Ms. Dodkin reported that the Secretary of the Labor Council at the time, Mr Jim Kenny, had proposed to develop the site as a large holiday facility for workers. She referred to newspaper reports at the time which stated Mr Kenny envisaged building a facility along the lines of the holiday camps found in Britain which would be able to accommodate up to 500 people.
Ms Dodkin advised that the original proposal for the facility did not come to fruition, mainly owing to lack of funding. She said that Jim Kenny was a realist and if he was alive today, he would deem the present use of Currawong not appropriate because it was not what was originally intended. She added that he would be of the view that its present use was not in the best interests of the New South Wales trade union movement.
Mr Dodkin thanked Council for the opportunity to address the meeting.
In moving a vote of thanks to Mr Shane Withington and Ms Marylin Dodkin, the Secretary, Com. M. Costa, said that they had both contributed to the debate on Currawong and this would no doubt help delegates when they come to consider the issue next week.
Mr Costa then gave an update on the negotiations regarding the proposal and in particular, some of the changes that had been made to the draft heads of agreement as a result of concerns that had been raised with him. He pointed out some of the further constraints that had been placed on the proposed lessee under the draft heads of agreement, including the addition of a clause that restricts the use of Currawong by Corporate Renaissance to the provision of training programs.
Com. N. Lewocki seconded.
CARRIED BY ACCLAMATION
ANNOUNCEMENT:
The President, Com. J. Whelan, invited Mr Peter Jennings of APHEDA to make an announcement. Mr Jennings informed delegates that the Canterbury-Bankstown Teachers Association had organised a Trivia Night on behalf of APHEDA to help raise funds for APHEDA's training projects in Africa. Mr Jennings advised that a flyer was being distributed at tonight's meeting, giving all the details, and encouraged delegates to attend.
EXECUTIVE BUSINESS
CORRESPONDENCE
1. From the Public Transport Union, New South Wales Branch - expressing further concern over the tragic deaths of four rail maintenance employees while working on infrastructure maintenance. The Union advised that both WorkCover and the Department of Transport were undertaking an investigation into these fatalities and said it believed there was a need to review the safeworking regulations associated with the protection of track maintenance workers. The PTU stated it was concerned that the use of Traffic Safety Officers had been withdrawn over the past five years and the Site Ganger now undertook this responsibility. The Union requested Labor Council convene a meeting of interested rail unions to determine union representation on a working party to review current safeworking regulations and track protection for workers performing work on, or near, rail tracks.
Com. Costa moved Executive Recommendation:
"That the correspondence be received and the meeting of rail unions be convened, as requested."
Com. N. Lewocki seconded.
CARRIED
2. From the Public Service Association of New South Wales -
From the New South Wales Nurses' Association -
From the Australian Services Union, NSW & ACT (Services) Branch -
From the NSW Teachers Federation - referring to aspects of the proposed Child Protection Legislation that was currently before the New South Wales Parliament. Each of the affiliates stated support for the intent of the legislation, however, they expressed their concern at certain aspects of it. These concerns included the definition of a child being someone under 18 years of age; the definition of child abuse; questions of vexatious allegations; and a question regarding consultation on the regulations that were to be put into place. The affiliates noted that unless these outstanding issues could be resolved, the legislation could impede the work of adults responsible for the care of children in various public and private sector organisations. They said it must be made very clear what was deemed to be inappropriate behaviour when dealing with children. The affiliates called on the Labor Council to make urgent representations to the Government on this issue.
Executive Officer Gail Gregory supplemented with a brief report in which she expanded on the concerns.
Com. Costa moved Executive Recommendation:
"That the correspondence be received and that Labor Council make urgent representations to the Premier regarding aspects of the proposed legislation on child protection.
Further, a meeting of relevant affiliates be convened as a matter of urgency."
Com. J. Lemaire seconded and spoke to the resolution.
CARRIED
3. From the Australian Services Union, NSW & ACT (Services) Branch - attaching an article from the Sydney Morning Herald, dated the 15th October, 1998, relating to the Olympic Minister, The Hon. M. Knight, MP, receiving new sweeping powers on the provision of public transport for the Olympic Games period. The Union requested Labor Council convene a meeting with the relevant unions to discuss this issue.
Com. Costa moved Executive Recommendation:
"That the correspondence be received and a meeting of public transport unions be convened to consider the issue of transport powers during the Olympics."
Com. J. Templeman seconded.
CARRIED
4. From the Finance Sector Union of Australia, NSW/ACT Branch - advising that legislation aimed at restructuring the New South Wales Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme was about to be debated in the State Parliament and raising concern that the Union had only become aware that any changes were being planned through reading an article in the Sydney Morning Herald. The Union stated that while the article did not go into any great detail, it suggested that the ability to pursue a claim for psychological injury would be severely restricted, if not eliminated altogether, in many cases. The Union said that while it understood there may be a small element of claimants who were abusing the system, the outlined changes would have a major impact on those genuine victims of criminal activities who suffer real psychological injuries. The FSU believed that its members and members of other affiliates would be disadvantaged by the proposed changes and requested Labor Council's support in insisting that the Minister meet a delegation of affiliates, including the FSU, before the proposed legislation was progressed through the Parliament.
Com. Costa moved Executive Recommendation:
"That the correspondence be received and Labor Council seek a meeting with the Minister, as requested, to discuss the proposed changes to the legislation."
Com. G. Derrick seconded and spoke to the resolution.
CARRIED
5. From The Maritime Union of Australia, Central NSW Branch - requesting Labor Council make representations to the Minister for Industrial Relations, The Hon. J. Shaw, QC, MLC, to have the Occupational Health & Safety Act (OH&S Act) amended so that officers and employees of federal unions can exercise powers as OH&S Act 'authorised officers'. The Union outlined a proposed interim amendment and also an amendment to be made in the long term and noted that neither of the proposed amendments were contentious as they would actually expand the level of protection of the OH&S legislation for workers in New South Wales.
Com. Costa moved Executive Recommendation:
"That the correspondence be received and Labor Council support the amendments proposed by the MUA and make appropriate representations to the Minister for Industrial Relations."
Com. B. Robson seconded.
CARRIED
6. From the Construction, Forestry, Mining & Energy Union, Forest & Forest Products Division, NSW Branch - advising Council that the State Government had implemented a number of forest policy initiatives since their election in 1995 and that these policies had been implemented at significant cost to workers and communities in rural New South Wales, with approximately 600 timber workers having lost their jobs over the last three years. The Union sought Labor Council's support for three specific issues with regard to the North Coast Regional Forest Agreement. Those issues being resource security, no further job losses and the recognition of the contribution the timber industry made to many communities on the North Coast.
Com. Costa moved Executive Recommendation:
"That the correspondence be received and Labor Council support the CFMEU in their efforts to secure a sustainable outcome for the North Coast Regional Forest Agreements."
Com. K. Livingston seconded and spoke to the resolution.
CARRIED
7. From the Transport Workers' Union of Australia - advising that the current dispute between the Maritime Union of Australia and P&O Ports was having serious flow-on consequences for TWU members. The Union said drivers were spending hours each day while waiting to be loaded, or unloaded, at P&O which was having serious financial consequences for them and for the current financial viability of sectors of the transport industry. The TWU requested Labor Council convene an urgent meeting with affiliates involved and effected by the dispute to discuss these issues.
Com. Costa moved Executive Recommendation:
"That the correspondence be received and an urgent meeting be convened, as requested."
Com. T. Sheldon seconded.
CARRIED
8. From Construction, Forestry, Mining & Energy Union, Construction & General Division - seeking Council's support for the arrest of former Chilean dictator Pinochet and stating that his appalling human rights record was well known and he was considered by many human rights organisations to be one of the worst transgressors this century. The Union said that Pinochet's arrest was particularly significant from a labour movement point of view, given that his seizure of power started with the brutal crushing of the Chilean workers organisations, and the murder, torture and imprisonment of thousands of activists. The CFMEU advised that both the British and Spanish Governments were under considerable pressure to release Pinochet and said it believed it was vital that they are shown how much support their action had throughout the world. The Union requested that Labor Council and all affiliates send letters of support to both the British and Spanish Governments.
Com. M. Costa moved Executive Recommendation:
"That the correspondence be received and that the correspondence be circulated to affiliates for their information, support and action."
Com. E. Rivera seconded and spoke to the resolution.
CARRIED
COUNCIL ADJOURNED AT 7.08 PM
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