Meeting held : 22 May 2008
Chair of Meeting: The President, Comrade. Sandra Moait
Location of the meeting : Trades Hall Auditorium, 4 Goulburn St Sydney
UNIONS NSW MEETING MINUTES
MEETING HELD THURSDAY 22ND MAY 2008
IN THE TRADES HALL AUDITORIUM
AT 4 GOULBURN STREET, SYDNEY, AT 6:04 PM
The President Com. S. Moait occupied the Chair.
PRESENT: M. Lennon (Acting Secretary), A. Kerslake and A. Tattersall, (Deputy Assistant Secretaries).
OPENING
OF THE
MEETING: The President, Com. S. Moait 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 Acting Secretary, Com. M. Lennon moved: -
"That the minutes as circulated be received."
Com. B. Johnson seconded.
CARRIED
The Acting Secretary, Com. M. Lennon moved: -
"That the minutes as circulated be adopted."
Com. M. Thompson seconded.
CARRIED
CREDENTIALS
There were no credentials received for tonight's meeting.
APOLOGIES
Apologies were received and accepted for: - J. Robertson, M. Thistlethwaite, E. Cody, A. Ferguson, G. Dwyer, L. Hankinson, J. Diamond, C. O'Sheades, J. Hannaford.
The Acting Secretary, Com. M. Lennon moved: -
"That the apologies be received and accepted."
Com. M. Boyd seconded.
CARRIED
GUEST SPEAKER
The Acting Secretary, Com. M. Lennon welcomed Ms Alison Peters, Director of NCOSS, and invited her to address delegates about Anti-Poverty Week which will be held this year from 12 to 18 October.
Ms Peters said Anti-Poverty Week was established in Australia as an expansion of the United Nation's annual International Anti-Poverty Day on October 17. Its main aims are to strengthen public understanding of the causes and consequences of poverty and hardship around the world and in Australia; and encourage research, discussion and action to address these problems, including action by individuals, communities, organisations and governments.
She said the commonly used international measure (used by the OECD) is an income that is 50% (half) of the median disposable income. In Australia in 2006, for a single adult this was $281 per week. For a couple with 2 kids it is $590 and for a single parent with two kids its $449. In 2006 there were 2.2 million Australians living below this line. 412,000 were children (10% of all kids). In 1994 almost 8% of Australians lived below this line - in 2006 it was 11%. 17% of people living below this poverty line are in wage earning households.
Ms Peters said that it's pretty appalling to think that at a time when average household incomes are increasing there are actually more people living in poverty and some groups of people such as aboriginal people, the unemployed, aged pensioners living alone, people on disability support and people in regional areas, are more likely to be living in poverty.
Of these she said: 15% do not have a substantial meal at least once a day; 31% are unable to buy prescribed medicines; 57% are unable to get dental treatment; 24% do not have adequate heating; and of those with school aged children, 27% of children cannot participate in school activities or excursions.
Ms Peters said NCOSS are asking people and the community to get involved either by organising or participating in events or activities, some suggestions for which can be found on the website www.antipovertyweek.org.au.
Com. M. Lennon thanked Ms Peters for making Unions NSW and its affiliates aware of Anti Poverty Week and the ways in which people can become involved. He said that it was an indictment on the nation that there were so many Australians still living in poverty. It was particularly disturbing, he said, to see so many pensioners in difficulty. In closing he said Unions NSW would seek to participate in Anti-Poverty Week.
EXECUTIVE BUSINESS
CORRESPONDENCE
1. From the Minister for Education and Training, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for the Central Coast and Minister Assisting the Minister for Finance, The Hon John Della Bosca:- in response to a letter from Unions NSW regarding the new school teacher staffing procedures. The Minister said that he believed the new staffing procedures being implemented from Term 2, 2008 are an important step forward for public schooling in NSW as the changes give schools the opportunity, once priority placements have been made, to choose how to fill a classroom teacher vacancy. The Minister said the Department had listened to the views of the NSW Teachers' Federation and had held formal negotiations with them, and while the Department agreed with much of the Federation's proposal of 5 March 2008, it could not agree to delay change to the staffing procedures for a further 12 months. The Minister said extensive consultation with professional groups, parents and others with an interest in public education had also been held. He stated that the Director-General of the Department of Education and Training has offered to include the new procedures in a staffing agreement with the Federation and they have been reassured that there is no secret agenda to deregulate the public school system. He went on to say that working parties have been set up to develop initiatives to enhance the quality of teachers and the operation of the staffing system and the implementation of the new staffing procedures would be monitored to ensure they work as intended. He concluded by saying the invitation is still open for the NSW Teachers' Federation to participate in the working parties and monitoring group.
Com. M. Lennon moved the Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and reject the Minister's response regarding the teacher staffing dispute and re-affirm its support for the Federation's campaign to retain equity in our education system."
Com. B. Johnson seconded the resolution.
CARRIED
2. From the Cross Border Trades & Labour Council:- informing Unions NSW that it became an entity in its own right following the inaugural meeting held on Wednesday 8th August 2007, and that they are presently organising an ABN and seeking to alter the constitution at a forthcoming meeting to register as an incorporated body. The CBTLC said a copy of the constitution will be provided following that meeting.
Com. M. Lennon moved the Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and Unions NSW congratulates the Cross Border Trades & Labour Council on its successful formation and continues to liaise with them about ongoing support."
Com. M. Boyd seconded the resolution.
CARRIED
3. From the Rail, Tram and Bus Union, Tram & Bus Division:- advising Unions NSW and its affiliates of the State Transit and State Government's plans to reduce certain bus services outside the peak hour, many of which the union said carry sufficient passengers to justify their continuing operation. The Union said State Transit is not conducting any community consultation and the public are given less than a week's notice of service cuts. The Union said this means that the public are being forced to use private transport or to travel closer to or in the peak hours, thus resulting in more overcrowding during those times. The Union said it had therefore mounted a public campaign to have State Transit restore decent service levels on the routes most affected, and have received overwhelming public support. The Bus & Tram Division of the RTBU is seeking the support of Unions NSW with this campaign.
Com. M. Lennon moved the Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and Unions NSW support the RTBU's campaign to ensure that Sydney has a comprehensive public transport system by restoring service levels for its buses."
Com. R. Baonza seconded the resolution.
CARRIED
4. From the Office of the Director-General, Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care (DADHC):- regarding the commencement of service planning for the Kanangra Centre, Morisset, as part of the NSW Government's Stronger Together: A New Direction for Disability Services in NSW 2006-2016, which contains a commitment to close or redevelop large residential centres over time. The Director-General said this closure of large residential centres is being undertaken as part of DADHC's ongoing work to ensure people with a disability requiring supported accommodation have a range of options available that are consistent with contemporary accommodation standards. The Director-General requested Unions NSW to notify relevant affiliates of this initiative and provided contact details and a copy of an information memo that had been issued to staff.
Com. M. Lennon moved the Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and details of the DADHC's planning for the Kanangra Centre be advised to relevant affiliates."
Com. K. Sewell seconded the resolution.
CARRIED
REPORTS
1. Electricity Privatisation
The Acting Secretary, Com. M. Lennon gave an update on the Stop the Sell Off Campaign, outlining campaign events that had occurred during the week, including a number of workplace meetings. Com. Lennon also reported on the meeting of Public Sector Unions that had taken place today. He said amongst other things the meeting condemned any attempts by State Government entitites to victimise workers supporting the campaign and asked for the support of Unions NSW on this issue.
Com. M. Lennon moved:-
"That the report be received."
Com. B. Riordan seconded.
CARRIED
Com. M. Lennon moved:-
"That the report be adopted and Unions NSW condemn any attempts by electricity entities to victimise any worker taking action as part of the anti-privatisation campaign."
Com. B. Kruse seconded.
CARRIED
2. Paid Maternity Leave
Deputy Assistant Secretary, Amanda Tattersall reported on the Paid Maternity Leave Campaign, and in particular Unions NSW's submission to the Productivity Commission Inquiry.
Com. M. Lennon moved:-
"That the report be received and noted."
Com. A. Kerslake seconded.
CARRIED
Com. M. Lennon moved:-
"That the report be adopted."
Com. M. Issanchon seconded.
CARRIED
COUNCIL ADJOURNED AT 6: 40PM
President: ____________________________________
About Unions NSW
