Meeting held : 04 September 2008
Chair of Meeting: The Acting President, Comrade Barry Johnson
Location of the meeting : Trades Hall Auditorium, 4 Goulburn St Sydney
UNIONS NSW MEETING MINUTES
MEETING HELD THURSDAY 4th SEPTEMBER 2008
IN THE TRADES HALL AUDITORIUM
AT 4 GOULBURN STREET, SYDNEY, AT 6:05 PM
The Acting President Com. B. Johnson occupied the Chair.
PRESENT: - J. Robertson (Secretary), M. Lennon (Assistant Secretary)
C. Christodoulou, M. Thistlethwaite, A. Kerslake (Deputy Assistant Secretaries).
OPENING
OF THE
MEETING:- The Acting President, Com. B. Johnson opened the meeting by recognising the traditional owners of the land on which the meeting was being held the Gadigal People of the Eora Nation.
MINUTES: -
The Secretary, Com. J. Robertson moved: -
"That the minutes as circulated be received."
Com. N. Nyols seconded.
CARRIED
The Secretary, Com. J. Robertson moved: -
"That the minutes as circulated be adopted."
Com. M. Want seconded.
CARRIED
CREDENTIALS
For tonight's meeting: -
From The Australian Workers' Union of Australia (Greater NSW Branch) appointing:- S. Barber in place of R. Collison.
From The Public Service Association of New South Wales appointing: - C. Staples
From The Textile Clothing & Footwear Union of Australia appointing: - H. Mc Nabb in place of P. Lane.
From The Health Services Union appointing: - R. Millington, D. Williamson, J. Fraser, K. Cawthorn, B. Roberts, D. Austin,
A. Humphries.
The Secretary, Com. J. Robertson, moved: -
"That the credentials be received and the delegate welcomed."
Com. G. Derrick seconded.
CARRIED
APOLOGIES
Apologies were received and accepted for: - S. Moait, A. Classons, J. Diamond,
D. Long, C. Drane, G. Dwyer.
The Secretary, Com. J. Robertson moved: -
"That the apologies be received and accepted."
Com. F. Barnes seconded.
CARRIED
GUEST SPEAKER
The Acting President Com. B. Johnson introduced The Honourable Ian West, MLC.
Com. West thanked Com. Johnson and said how much he appreciated the New South Wales trade union movement comradeship. He said being here he felt at home.
Com. West congratulated Unions NSW on the success of the 'Stop the Sell Off' campaign to date and noted it was ongoing
He said that the many reviews of the ALP in recent years had all stated there was as an intrinsic link between the trade union movement and the political wing. Com West said this is something the State government had forgotten.
He said they had also forgotten that it was the YR@W campaign that had helped win the State election in 2007.
Com. West raised the Treasurer's quote in May regarding the sound position of the State Budget. He said Treasurer Costa must have been misleading the public then if the budget in dire straits now.
Com. West said now with the changed budget position the public sector workers role was under attack once again, as a consequence services would suffer and so would the government.
Com West, in closing thanked delegates for the support they had shown him.
The Secretary, Com. J. Robertson, thanked Com. West and said he was always welcome at Unions NSW.
He said that he had been involved in the reviews of the party particularly the Hawke/Wran review and that they had all highlighted the link between unions and the party.
Com. Robertson said thanks to Com. West and his commitment to stand by the conference decision on electricity privatisation many other MP's supported the conference outcome.
He said that the union movement owed him a great deal, even under immense pressure from some of his parliamentary colleagues he stood firm in support of the conference decision.
Com. Robertson once again thanked Com. West for his address and reiterated that he was always welcome at Unions NSW.
EXECUTIVE BUSINESS
CORRESPONDENCE
1. From the Finance Sector Union, NSW Branch:- requesting assistance to distribute signatures of St George shareholders in the next phase of their 'Save the Dragon' campaign opposing the take-over by Westpac of St George. The FSU said the Corporations Act required 100 signatures from St George shareholders by the end of next week.
Com. J. Robertson moved the Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and Unions NSW seek that affiliates circulate the attached statement to members encouraging those who are St George shareholders to support the FSU's proposal for the EGM as requested."
Com. G. Derrick seconded & spoke to the resolution.
CARRIED
2. From the Health Services Union, NSW Branch:- regarding the announcement made by the Minister for Health, The Honourable Reba Meagher that the Ambulance Service was to divest its Rescue capability in Sydney, Central Coast, Hunter & Illawarra, which would be transferred to the Fire Brigades effective today. They said they had written to Premier Iemma requesting him to intervene and reverse the Minister Meagher's decision. The Union is seeking the support of affiliates to ensure that the Ambulance Rescue Unit continue to participate in providing a Rescue capability to complement that provided by the Fire Brigade, Police & Volunteer Rescue Services to protect the people of New South Wales.
Com. J. Robertson moved the Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and Unions NSW condemn the Government's actions in deciding to divest the Ambulance Service of its Rescue functions without proper consultation with the HSU or its members and that the decision be put on hold to allow such consultation to take place.
Further, that a meeting of emergency services unions be convened to discuss the Government's decision regarding the closure of the Ambulance Rescue Unit."
Com. P. Mylan seconded & spoke to the resolution.
CARRIED
3. From the Australian Workers Union, Port Kembla, South Coast and Southern Highlands Branch: - regarding the potentially serious dispute at Hanson Construction Materials, Bass Point over the dismissal of a member Com. Pepper. The Union said the matter heard in the State & Federal Industrial Relations Commission's both deciding to reinstate Com. Pepper. However, the Company was now claiming there is no jurisdiction for either Commission regarding the decision to reinstate Com. Pepper. The Union is therefore seeking Unions NSW support in resolving the issue, which could ultimately have serious ramifications for all workers in New South Wales.
Com. J. Robertson moved the Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and Unions NSW condemn the actions of Hanson Construction Materials in refusing to accept the decision of the Industrial Relations Commission in an Unfair Dismissal matter having agreed to have the matter heard in that jurisdiction by way of a Section 146A Agreement.
Further, Unions NSW calls on the State Government to intervene in the proceedings that the Company has brought before the Federal Court where they are seeking to challenge the validity of the New South Wales jurisdiction."
Com. N. Allen seconded the resolution.
CARRIED
4. From the United Services Union, NSW Local Government, Clerical, Administrative, Energy, Airlines & Utilities Union: - requesting that affiliates who are acquainted with members of the ALP Joint Policy Committee approach them prior to their meeting of 9th September 2008 to oppose the sale of retail electricity. Further, the Union requested that those members approached be encouraged to seek a meeting with unions and the Government to resolve the issue.
Com. J. Robertson moved the Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and Unions NSW support the USU's call that ALP Committee representatives at their Joint meeting next week oppose the sale of retail and support the holding of discussions between the Government and unions.
Com. B. Kruse seconded the resolution.
CARRIED
5. From the Media Entertainment & Arts Alliance, Federal Office: - expressing gratitude to Unions NSW and affiliates for their support throughout their campaign against Fairfax Media the past week. As a result of the community and affiliate support at the protest outside Fairfax building Fairfax has now allowed the union to finalise a collective agreement.
Com. J. Robertson moved the Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and Unions NSW congratulate MEAA and their members at Fairfax on their successful action which resulted in the finalisation of a collective agreement.
Further, Unions NSW add its voice of condemnation to the Premier's actions in allowing an Opinion piece to be published under his name in the Sydney Morning Herald while unionists were on strike."
Com. R. Fortescue seconded the resolution.
CARRIED
REPORTS
1. Paid Maternity Campaign Lobbying, Canberra
Com. Rudman and Com. Gardner reported on the successful Paid Maternity Leave Campaign Lobbying trip to Canberra, where 25 activists, nine union organisers and seven union leaders left Unions NSW Tuesday 26th August 2008 for two days of lobbying Federal Members of Parliament.
Com. Rudman reported the group was welcomed by the Federal politicians they had lobbied and felt that their concerns and suggestions for what the community needed in terms of paid maternity leave had been heard.
Com. Gardner thanked all the activists, organisers and union leaders for attending the trip.
Com. J. Robertson moved:-
"That the reports be received and noted."
Com. N. Lewocki seconded.
CARRIED
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
1. Stop the Sell Offs Rally
Sydney Town Hall, 11:00am, Saturday 20th September 2008 organised by Sydney Power to the People.
COUNCIL ADJOURNED AT 6:30PM
Acting President: ____________________________________
About Unions NSW
