Meeting held : 23 October 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 23RD OCTOBER 2008
IN THE TRADES HALL AUDITORIUM
AT 4 GOULBURN STREET, SYDNEY, AT 6:05PM
The President Com. S. Moait occupied the Chair.
PRESENT: - M. Lennon (Acting Secretary), C. Christodoulou, M. Thistlethwaite, A. Kerslake (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, M. Lennon moved: -
"That the minutes as circulated be received".
Com. B. Kruse seconded.
CARRIED
The Acting Secretary, M. Lennon moved: -
"That the minutes as circulated be adopted".
Com. M. Thomson seconded.
CARRIED
CREDENTIALS
For tonight's meeting: -
From The Public Service Association of New South Wales appointing:- M. Hand, G. Harris and C. Staples as delegates at tonight's meeting.
From The Textile Clothing & Footwear Union of Australia, New South Wales Branch appointing:- J. Owen in place of B. Tubner.
From The New South Wales Fire Brigade Employees' Union, NSW Branch appointing:- T. Broadhurst in place of C. Windsor and M. Reilly in place of J. Casey.
From The NSW Teachers Federation appointing:- M. Palmer in place of P. de Graaff and D. Blanch in place of J. Diamond.
The Acting Secretary, M. Lennon, moved: -
"That the credentials be received and the delegate welcomed".
Com. C. Staples seconded.
CARRIED
APOLOGIES
Apologies were received and accepted for: -C. Gambian, J. Diamond, L. Hankinson, C. O'Sheades, N. Lewocki, N. Hickey.
The Acting Secretary, M. Lennon moved: -
"That the apologies be received and accepted".
Com. R. Martin seconded.
CARRIED
QUESTION WITHOUT NOTICE
Com. F. Barnes made the following comments. Bob Hawke, Paul, Keating, Barrie Unsworth, Greg Combet but is there a difference with John Robertson?
Com. M. Lennon said that this would be answered during the course of the meeting when dealing with John Robertson's resignation as the Secretary of Unions NSW.
EXECUTIVE BUSINESS
CORRESPONDENCE
1. From Matt Thistlethwaite:- tendering his resignation as Deputy Secretary of Unions NSW.
Com. M. Lennon moved the Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and noted and that it is with regret that Matt Thistlethwaite's resignation be accepted.
Unions NSW congratulates Matt Thistlethwaite on his decision to stand for the vacant position of the General Secretary of the Australian Labor Party in NSW.
Further, Council notes the substantial contribution that Matt Thistlethwaite has made during his time with the trade union movement and the role he played during the electricity privatisation campaign."
Com. M. Boyd seconded the resolution.
CARRIED
A number of delegates including Ben Kruse and Russ Collison paid tribute to Matt's work in the trade union movement and in particular his role in the electricity dispute.
Matt Thistlethwaite spoke and thanked affiliates and delegates for their support.
2. From Mark Lennon:- tendering his resignation as Assistant Secretary of Unions NSW.
Com. M. Lennon moved the Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and noted and Com. Lennon be thanked for his work as Assistant Secretary."
Com. G. Dwyer seconded the resolution.
CARRIED
3. From John Robertson:- tendering his resignation as Secretary of Unions NSW.
Com. M. Lennon moved the Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and Unions NSW accepts with regret the resignation of John Robertson as the Secretary of Unions NSW.
In accepting the resignation Unions NSW places on record its great appreciation for the outstanding contribution that John Robertson has made for over twenty years to the trade union movement in particular, his last 7 years as Secretary of Unions NSW.
Unions NSW notes the highlights of his contribution were his role in removing the Howard Government through the historic Rights At Work Campaign and stopping the privatisation of the electricity industry by the then Iemma Government.
Com. Robertson leaves a legacy at Unions NSW of a strong resilient organisation more than able to protect and enhance the livelihoods of working people.
Unions NSW wishes John Robertson every success as a representative in the NSW Parliament and look forward to him continuing to be a strong voice for Labor in NSW."
Com. B. Riordan seconded and spoke to the resolution.
CARRIED
The following delegates also spoke to the resolution and paid tribute to John Robertson's work as Secretary of Unions NSW. They included Russ Collison, Judith Kiejda, Barry Johnson, Geoff Derrick and Rita Mallia.
The President, Sam Moait also spoke from the Chair and thanked John for his great leadership over the last 7 years.
John Robertson spoke and thanked officers and staff of Unions NSW, affiliates and delegates for their support over his seven years he was Unions NSW Secretary. John undertook to continue to work closely with the trade union movement.
REPORTS
1. Returning Officer's Report
The Returning Officer, Com. V. Falconer advises that nominations for the following positions at Unions NSW will open at 9.a.m on Friday 24th October, 2008 and close at 4p.m on Thursday, 30th October, 2008.
Secretary
Assistant Secretary
ACTU Executive Member
ACTU Alternate Executive Member
ACTU Congress Delegate
Should a ballot for any or all of these positions be necessary it would be conducted at the Trades Hall on Thursday, 6th November, 2008 between the hours of 5pm and 7pm.
Com. M. Lennon moved:
"That the report be received and noted."
Com. D. Shearman seconded.
CARRIED
COUNCIL ADJOURNED AT 7:30PM
President: ____________________________________
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