Meeting held : 03 December 1998
Chair of Meeting: The President, Com. J. Whelan
LABOR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
MEETING HELD 3RD DECEMBER, 1998 IN THE
TRADES HALL AUDITORIUM
AT 4 GOULBURN STREET, SYDNEY, AT 6.07 P.M.
PRESENT: M. Costa (Secretary), J. Robertson (Assistant Secretary), M. Lennon, (Executive Officer).
The Secretary, Com. M. Costa, moved:-
"That the minutes as circulated be received."
Com. M. McTigue seconded.
CARRIED
The Secretary, Com. M. Costa, moved:-
"That the minutes as circulated be adopted."
Com. W. Hickey seconded.
CARRIED
CREDENTIALS:
For this evening's meeting:
From Textile Clothing & Footwear Union of Australia - appointing D. Tozer, H. Nguyen in place of M. Brown, B. Jenson.
Moved and seconded:-
"That the credentials be received
and the delegates welcomed."
APOLOGIES:
Apologies were received and accepted from: G. Gregory, N. Steer, B. Jardine, L. Darnley, J. Hennessy, S. Moait, J. Merchant, D. Shearman, A. Peters, B. Harris, G. Dwyer, R. Collison.
GUEST SPEAKER:
The President, Com. J. Whelan, welcomed and introduced Mr Francisco Caquilpan, leader of the indigenous people of Chile and invited Com. Caquilpan to address delegates.
Com. Caquilpan advised Council that he was in Sydney attending a conference discussing the rights of indigenous people. He stated that, like so many others in the world, his people were interested in the survival of the world and were conscious, and supportive of the issue of the survival of the planet.
Com. Caquilpan stated the problem of the ecology was an issue his people were struggling with and that global survival was an issue for all the people of the world. He said in Chile, the cutting down of trees was connected with the economic system that existed on the planet and that his people were seeking to deal with this issue as it concerned, not only them, but future generations. He said the land was the resource of the indigenous people of Chile and this was being taken away.
Com. Caquilpan concluded stating there was a need to respect everybody and the diversity that existed in the world.
In moving a vote of thanks to Francisco Caquilpan, the Secretary, Com. M. Costa, said Com. Caquilpan had eloquently espoused the difficulties confronting the indigenous people of Chile. He said the struggles that Com. Caquilpan detailed were not unfamiliar to the Council and Com. Costa highlighted the current situation with regards to the Aboriginal community and their struggle against the Jabiluka Uranium Mine.
Com. Costa stated the principles of respecting everybody and diversity was one we could all agree to. He offered support to Com. Caquilpan and his people in their struggle.
Com. A. Ferguson seconded.
CARRIED BY ACCLAMATION
EXECUTIVE BUSINESS
CORRESPONDENCE
1. From the NSW Teachers Federation - advising Council that 1 December, 1998, was World Aids Day and stating that the trade union movement had a responsibility to ensure that its members were aware of the causes and effects of HIV/AIDS. The Teachers Federation further said the trade union movement also had the responsibility to ensure that workers who had HIV or AIDS were treated with the same respect as anyone with a life-threatening illness and that there was no discrimination by employers or fellow workers against members with HIV/AIDS. The Union called on Labor Council to remind all affiliates of their responsibility in dealing with HIV/AIDS and to ensure they had policies to protect the rights of their members.
Com. Costa moved Executive Recommendation:
"That the correspondence be received and circulated to all affiliates as a reminder of the continuing danger of HIV/AIDS and the need to protect the rights of members suffering from the disease.
Com. F. Barnes seconded and spoke to the resolution.
CARRIED
2. From Australian Services Union, New South Wales Clerical and Administrative Branch - attaching an article from the Sydney Morning Herald of 3 December, 1998, headed "Mixed Bag for Education" which advised that the Vos Committee had recommended that 'private tuition and membership fees to associations, such as unions, should be taxed'. The Union said that in view of this recommendation, it was calling on Labor Council to liaise with the ACTU, and employer bodies, with the view of making a submission to the Government, or alternatively lobby Senators, that the GST should not apply to membership fees to associations such and unions and employer organisations.
Com. Costa moved Executive Recommendation:
"That the correspondence be received and the request be agreed to."
Com. M. Want seconded.
CARRIED
3. From the Construction, Forestry, Mining & Energy Union, Construction & General Division - advising Council that 1 December, 1998, was the 50th Anniversary of the National Security Law in South Korea, which was a law that had been modelled after the Public Order and Security Law used under Japanese colonialism to punish Korean independence activists, and a law, essentially, to repress dissent. The CFMEU advised that the current Korean President had insisted on the need to abolish this law whilst in opposition but despite successive promises and pre-election attempts to covey an image of a 'new human rights government', nothing had fundamentally altered. Indeed, the Union said, a further 300 people had been arrested under the Law this year. The Union believed it appropriate for Labor Council to join with the Korean and international trade union movement, human rights and church groups, who were calling for the abolition of this law. The CFMEU requested that Labor Council forward correspondence to the Korean Government demanding the abolition of the National Security Law in South Korea, demanding the release of all political prisoners arrested under the Law and the reform of the investigative agencies empowered by the National Security Law.
Com. Costa moved Executive Recommendation:
"That the correspondence be received and Labor Council write to the Korean Government calling upon it to respect basic human rights by abolishing the National Security Law and releasing all political prisoners."
Com. B. Kang seconded and spoke to the resolution.
CARRIED
4. From the Australian Services Union, Municipal Employees Union - advising that it had been pursuing Pacific Power over its use of Australian Work Place Agreements through a subsidiary company called Pacific Western. The Union advised that there had been a series of proceedings in the Australian Industrial Relations Commission using New South Wales tax payers money against the Union. With the assistance of Labor Council officials, including Mr John Robertson and, more recently Mr Mark Lennon, the New South Wales Minister for Energy had now advised of the cessation of this action against the ASU and other unions. The ASU thanked Labor Council for its assistance in this matter and requested thanks be conveyed to affiliates.
Com. Costa moved Executive Recommendation:
"That the correspondence be received and noted.
Further that the ASU's thanks be conveyed to the relevant officials and affiliates."
Com. J. Lyons seconded.
CARRIED
5. From the Finance Sector Union of Australia, NSW/ACT Branch - advising Council that the Local Government Association had recently announced that it would be establishing a taskforce on banking services to examine the provision of alternative services to communities. The Union said that over the last three years, 25,000 people, many of whom were members of the Union, had lost their jobs as the major banks had withdrawn services from these communities and despite being skilled employees, had been unable to find alternative employment. The FSU requested Labor Council seek a meeting with the Local Government Association to discuss the proposal and its implications, as many of those people out of work, were a potential valuable resource for such an endeavour.
Com. Costa moved Executive Recommendation:
"That the correspondence be received and a meeting with the Local Government Association be arranged to discuss their proposal for alternative banking services."
Com. G. Derrick seconded.
CARRIED
6. From the Transport Workers' Union of Australia, New South Wales Branch - advising that the Federal Government had, today, introduced legislation seeking to remove superannuation as an allowable matter under federal awards. The Union said that this, together with the Government's proposal to push forward with its choice of fund legislation, represented a blatant undermining of the rights of working people to achieve a decent retirement through superannuation. The Union stated that superannuation was and would continue to an industrial matter that should be part of the award system and working peoples' ability to access the Australian Industrial Relations Commission to protect this right was increasingly important. The TWU requested that Labor Council make representations to the Federal Government, outlining in clear terms, its objection to the legislation.
Com. Costa moved Executive Recommendation:
"That the correspondence be received and Labor Council make representations to the Federal Government as requested and lobby, through the ACTU, to ensure award superannuation was protected.
Further, the issue should be raised with the Organising Workers project as a possible recruitment tool."
Com. G. Donnelly seconded.
CARRIED
7. From the Public Transport Union, New South Wales Branch - advising Council that it had commissioned an independent report to examine the economic benefits, disadvantages and social costs associated with lost rural employment. The Union advised the Newcastle University Centre for Labour Studies and Dr. Daryll Hull, a Western Australian consultant in management structures and economics, had prepared a comprehensive report for the Union titled 'Back on Track'. The report highlighted major flaws in the State Government's economic assumptions and cost benefits of contracting out.
The PTU said the report recommended alternate economic models and costing analysis which provided the State Government the opportunity to continue the significant cost savings and increased productivity that had already been achieved. The Union further advised that the full report was available to affiliated unions through the PTU.
Com. Costa moved Executive Recommendation:
"That the correspondence be received and Labor Council continue to support the PTU's effort to protect the jobs of rail workers."
Com. N. Lewocki seconded and spoke to the resolution.
CARRIED
REPORTS:
1. Olympics Award
Senior Industrial Officer, Com. Chris Christodoulou, reported on progress with the Olympic award. He advised that Labor Council was now at the point where the draft application had been filed in the Industrial Registry on Wednesday, 2 December, 1998. The award sought to cover cleaning, venue maintenance and service workers engaged for the period of the Olympics.
Com. Christodoulou advised that the unions currently involved in the application were the AWU, ALHMU and MEAA and he said that others may want to get involved in the future. He further advised that the award application sought to establish high standard awards and progressive methods for dealing with other issues. He said the application also allowed for preference of employment for existing venue staff during the Olympics.
Com. Christodoulou said there were still a series of issues that needed to be resolved once the award was made, including security.
The Secretary, Com. M. Costa, moved:-
"That the report be received."
Com. V. Herman seconded.
CARRIED
The Secretary, Com. M. Costa, moved:-
"That the report be adopted."
Com. G. Livermore seconded.
CARRIED
2. Returning Officers Report
The Secretary, Com. M. Costa, read a report from the Returning Officer, Mr Col Bosworth, advising that nominations had been called last week for the positions of Executive Member of the General Transport Group and Member of the 2KY Wireless and Media Committee.
The Returning Officer reported that at the close of nominations at 4.00pm today, Thursday, 3 December, 1998, the following nominations had been received:
for the position of Executive Member of the General Transport Group,
Mr Tony Sheldon, Secretary of the Transport Workers Union.
and
for the position of Member of the 2KY Wireless and Media Committee,
Mr Bernie Riordan, Secretary of the Electrical Trades Union
The Returning Officer declared that as these were the only two nominations received, a ballot would not be required.
He declared Bernie Riordan and Tony Sheldon elected unopposed.
The Secretary, Com. M. Costa, moved:
"That the report be received."
Com. Wooldridge seconded.
CARRIED
The Secretary, Com. M. Costa, moved:
"That the report be adopted."
Com. B. Tubner seconded.
CARRIED
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
The Secretary, Com. M. Costa, advised delegates that leaflets were being distributed a tonight's meeting entitled 'Maternity Leave - It's Your Right'. He said the leaflet outlined the issues of maternity leave, paternity leave and adoption leave and encouraged all affiliates to ensure they took copies of the leaflet back to their union.
The Secretary, Com. M. Costa, advised delegates that as next week's Labor Council meeting, to be held on Thursday, 10 December, 1998, would be the last for the year, all affiliates were invited to attend drinks at the Trades Hall Tavern for 1 hour at the conclusion of the meeting.
COUNCIL ADJOURNED AT 7.02PM
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