Meeting held : 21 May 2009
Chair of Meeting: The President, Comrade Marilyn Issanchon
Location of the meeting : Trades Hall Auditorium, 4 Goulburn St Sydney
UNIONS NSW MEETING MINUTES
MEETING HELD THURSDAY 21ST May 2009
IN THE TRADES HALL AUDITORIUM AT
4 GOULBURN STREET, SYDNEY AT 6:00PM
The President, Com. M. Issanchon occupied the Chair.
PRESENT: - C. Christodoulou [Acting Secretary], Mark Morey [Senior Industrial Officer].
MINUTES: -
The Acting Secretary, Com. C. Christodoulou moved: -
"That the minutes as circulated be received".
Com. R. Fortescue seconded.
CARRIED
The Acting Secretary, Com. C. Christodoulou moved: -
"That the minutes as circulated be adopted".
Com. F. Barnes seconded.
CARRIED
APOLOGIES
Apologies were received and accepted for: - M. Lennon, A. Kerslake, A. Tattersall, G. Kelly, G. Derrick, J. Diamond, C. O'Sheades, B. Johnson, L. Hankinson, L. Smith.
The Acting Secretary, Com. C. Christodoulou moved: -
"That the apologies be received and accepted".
Com. M. Thomson seconded.
CARRIED
GUEST SPEAKER:
The President, Com. M. Issanchon introduced Mr Simon Butler from World Environment Day Rally and invited him to address delegates.
Simon Butler outlined the call to action on the World-wide Environment Day which will be held on June 13th. He emphasised the need for unions to assist the environment movement in pushing for earlier targets on renewable energy, the growth in green collared jobs and greater emphasis on achieving agreed international emissions targets.
The Acting Secretary, Com. Christodoulou thanked Simon for his address and said that whilst unions' number one priority was job protection, there was no reason why this could not go hand in hand with the campaign to support a sustainable environment.
EXECUTIVE BUSINESS
CORRESPONDENCE
1. From the Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union, NSW Branch:- requesting Unions NSW and affiliates take action to seek the release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, who after nearly 14 years under house arrest now faces imprisonment by the Burmese military junta. The Union said that action by affiliates would help keep the focus of the world on the plight of Aung San Suu Kyi who is one of 2,100 political prisoners (this figure has doubled in the last 18 months). They said that it would let the junta know that the world is watching and that we care.
Com. C. Christodoulou moved the Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and Unions NSW condemn the actions of the Burmese Government.
Further, we call upon affiliates to take action to secure the release of Aung San Suu Kyi and other political prisoners in Burma".
Com. R. Fortescue seconded the resolution.
CARRIED
2. From the Maritime Union of Australia, Sydney Branch:- advising Unions NSW that the new Sydney Ferries EBA had been negotiated and voted in by MUA and AMOU members at Sydney Ferries. The MUA said that the agreement was a good outcome which successfully delivered reform and savings for public ferries. They said that wage outcomes were modest but were delivered in addition to superannuation increases and reduced hours, which satisfied government wage guidelines, but maintained standards for workers at Sydney Ferries through a range of working conditions. The MUA said that successful joint bargaining between their union, the AMOU with the AMIPE, had achieved a mirrored agreement. They said that this in itself was a big achievement and a positive demonstration of the capacity of the unions to reform and work together to maintain public ownership at Sydney Ferries.
Com. C. Christodoulou moved the Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and Unions NSW congratulates the MUA and other Ferry Unions in finalising an EBA which not only maintains wages and conditions but will assist Sydney Ferries to become a more efficient and effective operation.
Further, Unions NSW reiterates its opposition to any proposal to privatise Sydney Ferries".
Com. N. Lewocki seconded the resolution.
CARRIED
3. From the Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union, Construction & General Division, NSW Branch:- expressing its concern for workers imprisoned by the Iranian security forces on May Day 2009. They said that on May 1st 2009, despite intense suppressive measures and an undeclared marshal law, thousands of under privileged workers marked International Workers Day by protesting against the Iranian Government's oppressive authority. In the course of the protest, more than 150 people, including women and teenagers, were arrested for gathering in Tehran's Laleh Park. The Union advised that since their imprisonment, these unionists had been harshly treated and interrogated by the Iranian security forces.
Com. C. Christodoulou moved the Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and Unions NSW condemn the arrest and imprisonment of workers in Iran for exercising their democratic right to protest on May Day.
Further, Unions NSW write to the Iranian Embassy expressing our concern and requesting that all persons arrested on May Day be released immediately".
Com. M. Razaghi seconded the resolution.
CARRIED
4. From the New South Wales Local Government, Clerical, Administrative, Energy, Airlines & Utilities Union:- regarding correspondence submitted to last week's Unions NSW meeting and a proposed resolution to the Government' s Energy Privatisation proposal.
"The Unions continue to oppose the latest proposal by the NSW Government for the privatisation of NSW power industry and assets. The union movement supports energy industry members and the USU calls on Unions NSW to co-ordinate a campaign to secure the protection of energy workers wages and conditions."
Com. C. Christodoulou moved the Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and the resolution contained within the correspondence be endorsed".
Com. B. Kruse seconded the resolution.
CARRIED
5. From the Construction, Forestry Mining & Energy Union, Construction & General Division, NSW Branch and the Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union, NSW Branch:- expressing their disappointment at the endorsement of proposed OH&S 'harmonisation' legislation at this week's Workplace Relations Ministerial Council. Both the CFMEU and AMWU said that adoption of the measures agreed to will mean a decline in OH&S standards in NSW. The NSW Minister for Industrial Relations, Joe Tripodi has publicly conceded that NSW workers will be worse off.
Com. C. Christodoulou moved the Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and Unions NSW expresses its condemnation of the decision of the Workplace Relations Ministerial Council which has adopted model OH&S laws which are significantly inferior in a number of areas to NSW laws. In particular, we express our concern that the Federal Government has failed to honour its commitment not to reduce OH&S standards as a consequence of the harmonisation process.
Further, we call upon the NSW Government to legislate and protect key elements of NSW OH&S laws".
Com. C. Drane seconded the resolution.
CARRIED
ANNOUNCEMENTS
1. `Does Australia Need a Bill of Rights?
At our Thursday Night Meeting on Thursday, 28th May, 2009 a discussion will take place between the Hon. Bob Carr, Former Premier of NSW and Professor George Williams, University of NSW.
Please note that the discussion will start at 6.10pm sharp and only urgent correspondence will be dealt with.
The meeting will conclude at 7.00pm.
2. APHEDA Raffle
The Annual APHEDA Raffle will be drawn at the Unions NSW meeting on 28th May 2009.
3. 4th JUNE 2009 MEETING
Affiliates are advised that there will be NO Thursday Night Meeting on the 4th June 2009.
4. NSW Labor New Members Evening
Tuesday 2nd June 2009
6.00 - 8.00pm
Jubilee Room, Parliament House
Macquarie Street, Sydney
For further information contact Kaila Murnain
ALP on 9207 2000 or email Kaila@nswalp.com.
5. RTBU - Station Campaign
Rally to launch a community and political campaign to save our stations on the South Coast
Date: Friday 29th May 2009
Time: 11am
Venue: Outside the South Coast Labor Council
& next to Wollongong Railway Station
Further information is available from the RTBU on (02) 9264 2511 or
(02 4227 5798
MEETING ADJOURNED AT 6:30PM
President:____________________________________
About Unions NSW
