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Meeting held : 05 March 2009

Chair of Meeting: The President, Comrade. Sandra Moait

Location of the meeting : Trades Hall Auditorium, 4 Goulburn St Sydney

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UNIONS NSW MEETING MINUTES
MEETING HELD THURSDAY 5TH MARCH 2009
IN THE TRADES HALL AUDITORIUM AT
4 GOULBURN STREET, SYDNEY, AT 6:00PM

The President Com. S. Moait occupied the Chair.

PRESENT: - M. Lennon [Secretary], C. Christodoulou [Assistant Secretary].

MINUTES: -
The Secretary, Com. M. Lennon moved: -

"That the minutes as circulated be received".

Com. K. Sullivan seconded.

CARRIED

The Secretary, Com. M. Lennon moved: -

"That the minutes as circulated be adopted".

Com. N. Lewocki seconded.
CARRIED

CREDENTIALS

From The Textile Clothing & Footwear Union of Australia, New South Wales Branch appointing:- J. Owen in place of B. Tubner.

The Secretary, Com. M. Lennon moved: -

"That the credentials be received and the delegates welcomed".

Com. N. Lewocki seconded.
CARRIED

APOLOGIES

Apologies were received and accepted for: -A. Kerslake, B. Holmes, J. Kiejda, B. Kruse, L. Hankinson, C. O'Sheades, A. Humphries, G. Dwyer, B. Smith, C. Haigh, B. Tubner.

The Secretary, Com. M. Lennon moved: -

"That the apologies be received and accepted".

Com. W. Meaney seconded.
CARRIED

EXECUTIVE BUSINESS
CORRESPONDENCE

1. From the NSW Teachers Federation and Workersout!- requesting Unions NSW and its affiliates support, including financial support, for the Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras which is taking place on Saturday 7th March 2009.

Com. M. Lennon moved the Executive Recommendation:-

"That the correspondence be received and Unions NSW support the Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras 2009 including financial support for Workersout!

Further, Unions NSW calls upon the Rudd Labor Government to introduce a grandfather clause".

Com. F. Barnes seconded the resolution.
CARRIED

2. From the Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union, NSW Branch:- referring to their recent correspondence concerning the loss of jobs and entitlements at DSI and expressing their outrage at recent events at Pacific Brands, where almost 2000 Australian workers have lost their jobs as a result of the company's decision to take its business off shore. The AMWU congratulated the TCFUA at both a state and national level on their campaign on behalf of their members. They said that it was particularly offensive that at a time when thousands of workers were losing their jobs and, in some cases all their entitlements, CEO's and directors of these same companies continued to award themselves multi-million dollar packages. The union said that many of these same companies had accepted multi-million dollar grants from the government to buy equipment that they will now use to set up businesses overseas.

Com. M. Lennon moved the Executive Recommendation:-

"That the correspondence be received and that Unions NSW convene a meeting of affiliates to discuss a broad community based campaign with respect to government procurement policy as it relates to job protection, workers entitlements and rights at work."

Com. R. Fortescue seconded the resolution.
CARRIED

3. From the Textile Clothing & Footwear Union, NSW Branch:- advising Unions NSW that the major transport unions had passed resolutions to stop the export of any machinery that Pacific Brands may try to send to factories in Asia. The union said that the export of this machinery would compound the already dire situation of the 1850 workers who have been targeted by Pacific Brands as sacrificial lambs in the company's drive to maximise profits ahead of community responsibility. The TCFUA advised that rallies in support of the sacked workers would be held at Pacific Brand sites in Wentworthville, Unanderra and Cessnock over the next seven days and requested that the details be circulated to affiliates.

Com. M. Lennon moved the Executive Recommendation:-

"That the correspondence be received and that Unions NSW endorse the action taken by transport unions to stop the export of any machinery that Pacific Brands intends to send offshore.

Further, Unions NSW encourages affiliates to participate in rallies organised by the TCFUA at Wentworthville, Unanderra and Cessnock."

Com. P. Lane seconded the resolution.
CARRIED

4. From the Public Service Association of New South Wales:- advising Unions NSW that on 3rd March the NSW Premier announced several changes to the delivery of child protection services. The PSA said that whilst they welcomed the commitment of an additional $230 million funding for child protection (including an expanded workforce), they were concerned that the changes may lead to outsourcing of public sector jobs. They said that the report proposes that the non-government sector be given an enhanced role in the delivery of services and while cautiously supporting the change, they were concerned that the NSW Government may attempt to undercut the pay and conditions of public servants by outsourcing to the cheaper non-government sector. The union requested a meeting of all unions impacted by the changes to the Child Protection Services be convened.

Com. M. Lennon moved the Executive Recommendation

"That the correspondence be received and Unions NSW convene a meeting of affiliates as requested."

Com S. Turner seconded the resolution.

CARRIED

5. From the Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union, NSW Branch:- expressing their very best wishes to Sam Moait on her retirement as President of Unions NSW and also acknowledging her outstanding commitment to the trade union movement.

Com. M. Lennon moved the Executive Recommendation:-

"That the correspondence be received and Unions NSW congratulate Sam Moait for her outstanding contribution to the trade union movement."

Com R. Fortescue seconded the resolution.

CARRIED

REPORTS

1. Queensland Liberal National Party Misleading Advertising Campaign.

The Secretary, Com. M. Lennon advised council that the Queensland Liberal Nationals had taken out an advertisement in the Courier Mail using the Rights@Work logo as part of their state election campaign. The action was both misleading and illegal as Unions NSW has a trademark for the Rights@Work logo.

The Secretary, Com. M. Lennon moved:

"That the report be received."

Com. R. Collison seconded the resolution.

CARRIED

The Secretary, Com. M. Lennon moved:

"That the report be adopted and Council authorise the Secretary to take whatever action is necessary to protect the Rights@Work trademark."

Com. S. Turner seconded the resolution.

CARRIED

2. Tribute to Sandra Moait

The Secretary, Com. M. Lennon paid tribute to outgoing President, Sam Moait and outlined Sam's outstanding contribution not only to Unions NSW but to the trade union movement more broadly. Further, he indicated that based on the best available records, Sam's period as President from 1998 - 2009 would make her the longest serving President of the organisation. Secretary, Com. Lennon indicated that whilst he was sad to see Sam go that he was sure she was leaving for all the right reasons.

Other speakers who paid tribute to Sam were Susan Pearce from the NSW Nurses' Association, Russ Collison, Australian Workers' Union and Geoff Derrick from the Finance Sector Union.

Com. Sam Moait responded by saying that the Presidency had been an amazing journey. She reflected on the way Unions NSW had changed over the many years of her involvement and the fact that she had worked with four different Unions NSW Secretaries. She spoke of the need for Unions NSW to continue to be relevant to rank and file members and delegates as no other institution had the interest of workers as their foremost priority. She wished Unions NSW and the broader trade union movement well.

The Secretary, Com. M. Lennon moved:

"That the report be received."

Com. R. Collison seconded the resolution.
CARRIED

The Secretary, Com. M. Lennon moved:

"That the report be adopted and Sam Moait be congratulated for her outstanding contribution to Unions NSW and in being the organisation's longest serving president from 1998 to 2009.

Further, that Unions NSW award Sam Moait the Scroll of Honour."

Com. S. Pearce seconded the resolution.

CARRIED

The Secretary, Com. M. Lennon presented Sam Moait with her Scroll of Honour.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

1. International Women's Day March

Saturday 7th March 2009
Assemble at Town Hall between 11 & 11.30am
March begins at 12 Noon through the City to Hyde Park
Following the march a Rally will be held in Hyde Park North commencing at 12.30pm.
There will be stalls with information, food & products for sale.

2. OHS Delegates Meeting

Tuesday, 10th March 2009
Trades Hall Auditorium, Ground Floor
1.00pm - 3.00pm
For further information contact Alisha Wilde on 9881 5900
Or awilde@unionsnsw.org.au

MEETING ADJOURNED AT 6: 45PM

President:____________________________________