Meeting held : 12 June 2008
Chair of Meeting: The Acting President, Com. Sally McManus
Location of the meeting : Trades Hall Auditorium, 4 Goulburn St Sydney
UNIONS NSW MEETING MINUTES
MEETING HELD THURSDAY 12TH JUNE 2008
IN THE TRADES HALL AUDITORIUM AT
4 GOULBURN STREET, SYDNEY, AT 6:03PM
The Acting President Com. S. McManus occupied the Chair.
PRESENT:- M. Lennon [Acting Secretary], C. Christodoulou, M. Thistlethwaite, A. Kerslake (Deputy Assistant Secretaries.
MINUTES:-
The Acting Secretary, Com. M. Lennon moved: -
"That the minutes as circulated be received".
Com. D. Long seconded.
CARRIED
The Acting Secretary, Com. M. Lennon moved: -
"That the minutes as circulated be adopted".
Com. N. Nyols seconded.
CARRIED
APOLOGIES
Apologies were received and accepted for: - S. Moait, J. Robertson, A. Tattersall, B. Johnson, J. Diamond, E. Cody, N. Lewocki, L. Hankinson, C. O'Sheades, C. Game, B. Holmes, J. Kiejda.
The Acting Secretary, Com. M. Lennon moved: -
"That the apologies be received and accepted".
Com. T. Maher seconded.
CARRIED
EXECUTIVE BUSINESS
CORRESPONDENCE
1. From Union Aid Abroad APHEDA:- requesting the opportunity to draw the APHEDA annual raffle at the Unions NSW meeting on Thursday, 19th June 2008. They advised that Dascia Bennett, the NSW Manager of Members Equity would be invited to draw the winning tickets.
Com. M. Lennon moved the Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and APHEDA be invited to draw their raffle at next week's Unions NSW meeting as requested."
Com. G. Derrick seconded the resolution.
CARRIED
2. From the Hon. John Della Bosca, MLC, Minister for Education and Training, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for the Central Coast, Minister Assisting the Minister for Finance:- advising Unions NSW that he had no objection to the nomination of Ms Alisha Wilde as a replacement for Ms Mary Yaager as Unions NSW representative on the NSW Workplace Health and Strategy Review Committee. The Minister advised that he had written to Ms Wilde welcoming her to the forum. Minister Della Bosca thanked Ms Yaager for her contribution to the development and implementation of the NSW Workplace Health and Safety Strategy.
Com. M. Lennon moved the Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and noted and that Unions NSW thank Mary Yaager for her contribution to the NSW Workplace Health and Safety Strategy."
Com. B. Tubner seconded the resolution.
CARRIED
3. From the NSW Teachers Federation:- advising Unions NSW that at their recent Council meeting delegates reaffirmed the Teachers Federation's opposition to the sale or lease of vital public infrastructure. The Federation said they opposed the sale or lease of vital public infrastructure such as the electricity generation and, in particular resented the implication that such a sale was the only way the state could meet the obligations to provide quality public education. They said the Federation would continue to publicise protest actions against any proposed sale and congratulated members active in the anti-privatisation campaign.
Com. M. Lennon moved the Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and the Teachers Federation be thanked for their strong ongoing support for the anti-privatisation campaign."
Com. F. Barnes seconded the resolution.
CARRIED
4. From the Department of Environment & Climate Change NSW:- thanking Unions NSW for their support of the Nature Council's 'Green Collar Jobs for New South Wales' proposal. The Department said that they consider promotion of the economic and job creation opportunities offered by energy efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions reductions a priority area. However, there had been a number of existing projects and reports of a similar nature undertaken. They said that as a result, the Department of Environment and Climate Change (DECC) considers that such a project would require further discussion and development before funding could be considered. They advised that the Acting Director of Climate Change, Air and Noise Branch, Jenny McAllister, was interested in meeting with Unions NSW and the Nature Conservation Council to discuss further opportunities in this area.
Com. M. Lennon moved the Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and Unions NSW seek a meeting with DECC regarding agreed jobs proposal as proposed in the correspondence."
Com. S. Flynn seconded the resolution.
CARRIED
REPORTS
1. COAG and OH& S
Deputy Assistant Secretary, Chris Christodoulou reported on negotiations regarding a national OH& S system. He said many of the protective features of the NSW system are not on the agenda at a federal level. He said unions needed to be ready to gear up for a campaign against any changes in standards.
Com. M Lennon moved:-
"That the report be received and noted."
Com. V. Falconer seconded.
CARRIED
2. New Zealand Elections
Deputy Assistant Secretary, Adam Kerslake reported on the New Zealand elections and the role of Australian unions in encouraging their New Zealand members to enrol and vote in the election.
Com. M. Lennon moved:-
"That the report be received and noted."
Com. B. Gallen seconded.
CARRIED
3. Green Collar Jobs Alliance
Deputy Assistant Secretary, Matt Thistlethwaite reported that the energy unions held a very successful meeting with members yesterday on the Central Coast. The meeting heard reports from representatives of all political parties in the NSW Parliament. Importantly, the Liberal Party representative, Chris Hartcher and the National Party representative, George Souris both indicated that their respective parties would be voting against the legislation in the NSW Parliament. The meeting resolved to continue the lobbying of state MPs to have the legislation defeated in the NSW Parliament. A further meeting of the Electricity Privatisation Campaign Committee will be held on Wednesday, 18th June 2008.
Com. M. Lennon moved:-
"That the report be received and noted."
Com. P. Kessey seconded.
CARRIED
COUNCIL ADJOURNED AT 6:30PM
Acting President:____________________________________
About Unions NSW
