Meeting held : 12 February 2009
Chair of Meeting: The Acting President, Comrade Barry Johnson
Location of the meeting : Trades Hall Auditorium, 4 Goulburn St Sydney
UNIONS NSW ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING MINUTES
MEETING HELD THURSDAY 12TH FEBRUARY 2009
IN THE TRADES HALL AUDITORIUM AT
4 GOULBURN STREET, SYDNEY, AT 6:00PM
The Acting President Com. B. Johnson occupied the Chair.
PRESENT:- M. Lennon (Secretary), C. Christodoulou (Assistant Secretary), A. Kerslake (Deputy Assistant Secretary).
CREDENTIALS FOR TONIGHT'S MEETING
From The Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union, General Division appointing:- L. Bignull in place of D. Kyriacou.
From The Australian Workers' Union, Greater New South Wales Branch appointing:- T. McQuillan in place of R. Collison.
From The Construction Forestry Mining & Energy Union, Construction & General Division, New South Wales Branch:- appointing T. Papa in place of R. Mallia.
From The Police Association of New South Wales:- appointing A. Anson in place of P. Tunchon.
From The Public Service Association of New South Wales:- appointing S. Hameed.
FOR THE ENSUING YEAR
From The Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union, Branch:- appointing T. Ayres, P. Bastian, m. Hoban, D. Kyriacou, P. Reid, G. Simon,
V. Seagrove [Metals Division]. C. Drane, R. Fortescue [T & S Division].
F. Kenny, M. Lowe, G. Robinson [Print Division]. S. Morgan, C. Lewin [Vehicle Division].
From The Association of Professional Engineers, Scientists & Managers, Australia appointing:- C. Bolger [Transport Division] and K. Rooke [Colleries Division].
From The Association of Professional Engineers, Scientists & Managers, Australia:- appointing C. Bolger, C. Jones and M. O'Connell.
From The Association of Professional Engineers, Scientists & Managers, Australia, Collieries' Staff Division:- appointing K. Rooke
From The Association of Professional Engineers, Scientists & Managers, Australia, Transport Division:- appointing C. Bolger.
From The Local Government Engineers' Association of New South Wales: appointing G. Brock.
From The Australian Workers' Union, Greater New South Wales Branch:- appointing R. Collison, S. Bali, P. Farrow, V. Falconer, L. Heaney, C. Bodar, S. Barber and S. Crawford, P. Murray, G. Hillier, T. McQuillan, T. Mitchell, G. Beard, K. Brown as alternate delegates.
From Liquor Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union, Liquor & Hospitality Division:- appointing J. Hawker, T. Moriarty, B. Maxworthy, D. Holder, M. Dusevic.
From The NSW/ACT Independent Education Union:- appointing D. Shearman, G. Taylor, V. Heron, D. Kildea, K. Warren, M. Bracken, T. De Boehmler, D. Towson.
From New South Wales Nurses' Association appointing: - P. Byrne, L. Griffiths, B. Holmes, J. Kiejda, K. Lee, R. Martin, P. Millard, H. Rebeiro, L. Ridge, N. Scilinato, K. Sullivan, E. Ulm, M. Waites.
From The Textile Clothing & Footwear Union of Australia, NSW Branch appointing:- B. Tubner, S. Davies, P. Lane.
From New South Wales Local Government, Clerical, Administrative, Energy, Airlines & Utilities Union appointing:- B. Kruse, G. McLean, P. Reid, C. Young, P. Kelly, M. Wilson, L. Fraser, R. Byrnes, G. Whalley, K. Hayden, C. Raffan, J. Carter.
From The Police Association of New South Wales appointing:- B. Pritchard, J. Carroll, P. Tunchon, M. Spring, B. Morgan, G. Black, P. Remfrey.
The Secretary, Com. M. Lennon moved: -
"That the credentials be received and the delegates welcomed".
Com. B. Smith seconded.
CARRIED
APOLOGIES
Apologies were received and accepted for: - B. Unsworth, S. Moait, R. Baonza, H. Peterson, S. Edsall, L. Hankinson and C. O'Sheades.
The Secretary, Com. M. Lennon moved:-
"That the apologies be received and accepted".
Com. B. Tubner seconded.
CARRIED
AGENDA
The Secretary Com. M. Lennon moved the Annual General Meeting Agenda: -
1. Secretary's Report
2. Auditors Report
3. Annual Balance Sheet (consolidated)
4. Trades Hall Report
5. Appointment of Auditors
6. Welcome by Chairperson to Rengo Tokyo Delegates
7. Presentation of Scrolls of Honour
The Secretary Com. M. Lennon moved: -
"That the agenda be received".
Com. B. Parker seconded.
CARRIED
The Chairperson, Com. B. Johnson requested the meeting observe a minutes silence for the Victorian bushfire victims.
SECRETARY'S REPORT
The Secretary, Com. M. Lennon presented the 2008 Annual Report of Unions NSW to the meeting which was circulated to delegates.
In addition, Com. M. Lennon spoke of the tragedy that had occurred in Victoria with the bush fires. He indicated that Unions NSW had contributed $15,000.00 to the Victims Appeal. He also said that over $100,000.00 had been contributed by NSW Unions.
Com. M. Lennon thanked all officers and staff for their support over the last 12 months.
The Secretary Com. M. Lennon moved: -
"That the report be received".
Com. P. Bastian seconded.
CARRIED
The Secretary Com. M. Lennon moved: -
"That the report be adopted".
Com. J Hawker seconded.
CARRIED
AUDITOR'S REPORT
The Secretary Com. M. Lennon presented to the meeting the Auditor's Financial Report for the Labor Council's Management Fund, Property Account, Currawong Holiday Resort, Wireless Committee, Funeral Fund, NSW Narrowcasts Pty Ltd and Trades Hall Association Ltd for the year end 30th June 2008, which was distributed to all delegates and a copy of which is attached to these minutes.
The Secretary Com. M. Lennon moved: -
"That the report be received".
Com. B. Kruse seconded.
CARRIED
The Secretary Com. M. Lennon moved: -
"That the report be adopted".
Com. M. Issanchon seconded.
CARRIED
ANNUAL BALANCE SHEET
The Secretary Com. M. Lennon presented the Annual Balance Sheet to the meeting, which had been circulated to delegates and a copy of which is attached to these minutes.
The Secretary Com. M. Lennon moved: -
"That the report be received".
Com. M. Tulloch seconded.
CARRIED
The Secretary Com. M. Lennon moved: -
"That the Annual Balance Sheet be adopted".
Com. J. Irving seconded.
CARRIED
TRADES HALL REPORT
The Secretary Com. M. Lennon presented the Annual Trades Hall Report, a copy of which is contained in the Annual Report attached to these minutes.
The Secretary Com. M. Lennon moved: -
"That the report be received"
Com. W. Meaney seconded.
CARRIED
The Secretary Com. M. Lennon moved: -
"That the report be adopted".
Com. S. McManus seconded.
CARRIED
APPOINTMENT OF AUDITORS
The Secretary Com. M. Lennon, in accordance with Rule 13 moved: -
"That DBO Kendalls Audit & Assurance (NSW-VIC) Pty Ltd, the audit company, be appointed Auditors for Unions NSW for 2009".
Com. S. Barber seconded.
CARRIED
WELCOME TO FRATERNAL DELEGATES
The Acting President, Com. B. Johnson welcomed and introduced our fraternal delegates from Rengo Tokyo: -
• Brother Takumi Iketani, Vice President of Rengo Tokyo and Chairman of Tokyo Metropolitan Headquarters of All Japan Prefectural and Municipal Workers Union.
• Brother Akira Yamamoto, Assistant General Secretary of Rengo Tokyo.
• Brother Masaru Kurihara, Member of Executive Committee, Arakawa Local of Tokyo Municipal Transport Workers' Union (Tokyo).
• Sister Mami Okada, Department of Organisation, Japanese Association of Metal, Machinery, and Manufacturing Workers.
The Acting President, Com. B. Johnson invited the Delegation Leader, Brother Iketani to address delegates.
Brother Iketani gave the following address:
Mr Vice President, Secretary, Delegates, Colleagues, Ladies and Gentlemen.
On behalf of Rengo Tokyo (Tokyo local of Japanese Trade Union Confederation), I would like to thank you for inviting us to this Annual General Meeting.
My name is Takumi Iketani. I am the Vice President of Rengo Tokyo and Chairman of Tokyo Metropolitan Headquarters of all-Japan Prefectural and Municipal Workers Union.
In the wake of the global financial crisis, massive loses and cutbacks have struck top Japanese companies. About ten thousand jobs will be shed towards the end of next month. This will further add to the number of persons staying at 24 hour internet cafes.
Given the globalisation of world markets and wider disparities between rich and poor, winner and loser will be seen in Japan.
About 40% of workers in Japan are employed under precarious conditions for example temporary, contract-based and part-time work.
There are many workers who are engaged in low-paid work and work in poor conditions against their will. The expansion of precarious work leads to widening of economic disparities and new social stratification causing greater instability in society and a shrinking of the domestic market.
With great difficulty in 2007, we organised 47 new unions and 14,687 new members from October. We are working hard to increase the number of union members to 1 million.
We are now trying to promote "green jobs" in an effort to stimulate the economy and create some 1.8 million new jobs.
The Japanese government led by the Liberal Democratic Party has a huge budget deficit. Prefecture, city and town councils are financially in crisis and the quality of the service to residents has declined.
So it is time to challenge politics in Japan. Yes, we can. The Democratic Party we support will win the next general election. For this purpose, we must fulfil our respective roles, restore dignity to work and pursue improvement in the livelihoods of all workers throughout the world.
Our friends, Unions NSW are extremely important to us.
Rengo Tokyo intends to work closely together with Unions NSW and I believe this will help raise the level of labour movements all over the world.
In closing, I sincerely hope for the success of this Annual General Meeting.
Thank you.
The Secretary, Com. M. Lennon, in thanking Brother Iketani said his speech reinforced the view that international links between trade unions remain important.
The Secretary said the impact of globalisation was evident through Brother Iketani highlighting the problems of insecure employment in Japan exactly as is happening here in Australia. Globalisation was removing workers rights everywhere he said.
In closing, the Secretary said it was a pleasure having the delegation here and wished them well for the rest of their stay.
SCROLLS OF HONOUR
The Secretary Com. M. Lennon presented the following delegates with their Scrolls of Honour: -
Chris Nicholson
Australian Services Union of New South Wales
Elected as union delegate at Metropolitan Water, Sewerage & Drainage Board. He was then elected as a union organizer for the Water & Sewerage Employees' Union in the late 1970's and was a union official for thirty years organizing workers at Sydney Water.
Upon the amalgamation to the ASU in 1991 Chris continued working as an Organiser until his retirement in 2007.
Chris was a delegate to the Labor Council of NSW during the 1980s and 1990s and has dedicated his life to working people.
Maree O'Halloran
NSW Teachers Federation
Former President of NSW Teachers Federation for 7 years and an official of the Federation for over 10 years. Prior to this Maree was an active rank and file delegate of the Federation for 10 years and taught in schools in country NSW and the Blue Mountains.
Maree led the Federation during a range of salary and working conditions campaigns and played an active role in ensuring the Federation was at the forefront of the Rights At Work Campaign.
Maree was a delegate to Unions NSW for many years but more importantly a member of the Executive for 7 years.
Maree was also a public sector representative on the State Superannuation Board.
MEETING ADJOURNED AT 7:10PM
Acting President:____________________________________
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