Meeting held : 06 August 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 7TH AUGUST 2008
IN THE TRADES HALL AUDITORIUM
AT 4 GOULBURN STREET, SYDNEY, AT 6:06 PM
The President, Com. S. Moait occupied the Chair.
PRESENT: - J. Robertson [Secretary] M. Lennon [Assistant Secretary],
C. Christodoulou, M. Thistlethwaite, A. Kerslake (Deputy Assistant Secretaries).
MINUTES: -
The Secretary, Com. J. Robertson moved: -
"That the minutes as circulated be received".
Com. G. Dwyer seconded.
CARRIED
The Secretary, Com. J. Robertson moved: -
"That the minutes as circulated be adopted".
Com. M. Want seconded.
CARRIED
CREDENTIALS
From The Australian Workers' Union, Greater New South Wales Branch appointing: - S. Barber in place of N. Allen.
The Secretary, Com. J. Robertson moved: -
"That the credentials be received and the delegates welcomed".
Com. P. Kessey seconded.
CARRIED
APOLOGIES
Apologies were received and accepted for: - J. Diamond, B. Fitzpatrick, C. Game and A. Tattersall.
The Secretary, Com. J. Robertson moved: -
"That the apologies be received and accepted".
Com. M. Want seconded.
CARRIED
GUEST SPEAKER:
The President, Com. S. Moait, introduced Mr Randall Meadows from Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas (CLEAT). Com. Meadows said CLEAT represented 16,000 police officers in 14 regions across Texas. He said he was based in Arlington, Texas and represented members in negotiations with various city councils. Com. Meadows said he has enjoyed his visit to Australia and found it very informative. It had been a great experience for him. He thanked delegates for allowing him to speak.
The Secretary, Com. J. Robertson thanked Com. Meadows for his address saying it was important to maintain relationships with unionists from around the world.
EXECUTIVE BUSINESS
CORRESPONDENCE
1. AMWU NSW Retired Members Division:- advising Unions NSW that at the recent meeting of the Sydney Branch/Retired Members Division it was unanimously resolved to request assistance from Unions NSW in approaching the State Government with the positive aim of making it illegal for any employee under NSW State Awards/Agreements to be a party to any employer sponsored inducement to the cashing out in lieu of taking annual leave or accrued sick leave entitlements. They said the only exception being in circumstances of redundancy or termination of employment. The association said that their members in past years had been involved in fierce and sometimes bitter campaigns to gain these hard won conditions to enable workers time to recuperate from their workplace labour and to have some safeguard in cases of sickness or illness in their places of employment. They said that their members firmly believe that once the practice of cashing out these sweat and blood won conditions becomes a regular feature of Awards/Agreements, this may well lead to the total loss of these benefits, conditions that have taken the trade union movement over a hundred years to win.
Com. J. Robertson moved the Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and Unions NSW support approach the State Government to ensure that the cashing out of annual leave or sick leave entitlements remains prohibited under NSW legislation as requested in the correspondence."
Com. D. Henry seconded the resolution.
CARRIED
2. From The Hon. John Hatzistergos, MLC, Minister for Justice:- requestion nominations from Unions NSW for representation on the Correctional Industries Consultative Council of NSW - CICC for the next three years.
Com. J. Robertson moved the Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and Unions NSW nominate Adam Kerslake as their representative on the Correctional Industries Consultative Council of NSW (CICC) and Brad Parker as an alternative representative."
Com. B. Tubner seconded the resolution.
CARRIED
3. From the NSW Alliance of Retired Trade Unions:- advising Unions NSW that at a recent meeting of the NSW Alliance the following resolution was resolved:
"This meeting of members of the NSW Alliance of Retired Unionists (NSW ARTU) requests Unions NSW, the ACTU, Pensioners' Associations and other Retirees to protest against the manipulation of the stock market which has been the main factor behind the falling value of Superannuation Benefits.
We consider that now is the appropriate time for holding/sponsoring of a national conference on the issue of pensions and retirement funding."
Com. J. Robertson moved the Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and Unions NSW support the concept of a national conference on the issue of pensions and retirement funding and forward the request to the Minister for Human Services, Senator Joseph Ludwig."
Com. V. Higgins seconded the resolution.
CARRIED
4. From the New South Wales Local Government, Clerical, Administrative, Energy, Airlines & Utilities Union:- regarding a discussion paper released yesterday by Treasury as part of the Government's review on the future of the tax system. The union said that the paper raised issues of importance to working people about the:-
• level of income tax vs company tax
• effective marginal tax rate for those moving into work
• appropriateness of the present 9% superannuation contributions for workers.
The USU said that it was important as a movement that we inform ourselves about these and other tax issues so we can advocate for reform which protects the less well off in our communities and benefits working people and their families. The union requested Unions NSW conduct a forum with suitable speakers on tax as a first step to unions making an appropriate response to the review.
Com. J. Robertson moved the Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and Unions NSW arrange a forum on Tax Review for the information of affiliates as requested."
Com. M. Want seconded and spoke to the resolution.
CARRIED
5. From the Construction Forestry Mining & Energy Union, Construction & General Division, New South Wales Divisional Branch: - advising Unions NSW of the recent conduct of John Holland on the Bluewater Joint Venture - desalination plant construction site. They said that the Joint Venture and John Holland had refused union officials right of entry to the site with respect to occupational health and safety. The union advised that the company had filed proceedings in the Federal Court in relation to the issues that remained unresolved. The CFMEU advised that this week they had received a complaint from a worker on site about a number of serious safety issues including, the lack of a nurse call system, lack of women's toilet facilities, the lack of accessible drinking water and most seriously the apparent delay in medical treatment for a worker who was suspected to have had a heart attack. They said that there were also a number of other issues raised with respect to safety on the job related to subcontractors. The union advised that Assistant Secretary, Malcolm Tulloch had attended the site to investigate the suspected safety breaches, however, he was refused entry and the company called the police complaining of a breach of the peace. The CFMEU said they were angered that a major contractor undertaking State Government work conducts its safety management on site in this fashion. The union said that John Holland were entirely dismissive of the Union's legitimate right to investigate safety on site under NSW OH & S legislation. The CFMEU requested the assistance of Unions NSW in resolving the issue of right of entry on this site.
Com. J. Robertson moved the Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and Unions NSW condemn John Holland for its refusal to allow officials on site at the Desalination Plant to investigate serious OH&S issues.
Further, Unions NSW continue to assist construction unions in resolving this issue on site."
Com. M. Tulloch seconded and spoke to the resolution.
CARRIED
REPORTS
1. TCFUA
The TCFUA Secretary, Com. B. Tubner outlined details of his union's campaign to maintain support for the textile, clothing and footwear industry in Australia. He said the campaign was vitally important to the future of the industry. Com. Tubner asked affiliates to support the campaign by circulating the petition and distributing the campaign leaflet.
Com. J. Robertson moved:-
"That the report be received."
Com. G. Dwyer seconded.
CARRIED
Com. J. Robertson moved:-
"That the report be accepted and Unions NSW support
the TCFUA campaign."
Com. B. Riordan seconded.
CARRIED
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
1. IR Society of NSW Annual General Meeting & Luncheon
Friday, 15th August 2008
AGM 12 Noon - "Jubilee Room" Parliament House
Luncheon 12.45pm - "Strangers Dining Room"
Parliament House, Macquarie Street, Sydney
For further information contact IRS on 9630 5211
COUNCIL ADJOURNED AT 6:32PM
President: ____________________________________
About Unions NSW
