Meeting held : 11 June 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 11 JUNE 2009
IN THE TRADES HALL AUDITORIUM AT
4 GOULBURN STREET, SYDNEY AT 6:00PM
The President, Com. M. Issanchon occupied the Chair.
PRESENT: - M. Lennon [Secretary], C. Christodoulou [Assistant Secretary], A. Kerslake [Deputy Assistant Secretary]
MINUTES: -
The Secretary, Com. M. Lennon moved: -
"That the minutes as circulated be received".
Com. B. Tubner seconded.
CARRIED
The Secretary, Com. M. Lennon moved: -
"That the minutes as circulated be adopted".
Com. G. Derrick seconded.
CARRIED
APOLOGIES
Apologies were received and accepted for: - B. Holmes, J. King, J. Dixon, F. Barnes, C. O'Sheades, J. Diamond, G. Dwyer, I. Hankinson.
The Secretary, M. Lennon moved: -
"That the apologies be received and accepted".
Com. R. Fortescue seconded.
CARRIED
MOTIONS OF CONDOLENCE:
Vale: Greg Harvey
Rail, Tram and Bus Union, NSW Branch
The Secretary, Com. M. Lennon advised that it was his sad duty to report the passing of Com. Mr Greg Harvey on 3rd June 2009 after battling a long illness.
Greg was a reluctant National Secretary who took on the position in 2008 when an unexpected vacancy occurred. He was soon recognized and respected as a union leader by all those who knew him.
As an organiser in the National Office Greg won the ACTU 1998 Organiser of the year Award for this co-ordination and campaigning with Members during the Pacific National Collective Agreement dispute.
Vale: Brett O'Brien
Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union, NSW Branch
The Secretary, Com. M. Lennon advised that it was his sad duty to report the passing of Com. Brett O'Brien of the Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union. Brett was a long term Father of the Chapel at Hanna Match Richmond, and following that as Education Officer for the AWMU.
Brett was a very active member of the Blue Mountains Trade Union Group and played a significant role in the `Your Rights at Work' campaign in the mountains.
Brett in his role of Education Officer, and through community campaigning turned words of solidarity into deeds for the betterment of the lives of working people.
Brett had those basic elements and achieved the fruits of victory in the Your Rights at Work campaign and his achievements will continue on through those delegates he trained to become activists.
Brett has died too young and he will be missed by his comrades from within his own union and the broader Trade Union movement.
Delegates observed a minute's silence.
GUEST SPEAKER:
The President, Com. M. Issanchon introduced Mr Paul Howes, National Secretary, AWU and invited him to address delegates on the "Steel Industry Plan".
Paul Howes emphasised the crisis in the steel industry which was the largest in 70 years. The steel industry provides work for over 500,000 people in Australia. It was now being affected by the importation of dumped foreign steel in Australia.
The industry plan focussed on the need for:
- an economic stimulus package which produced Australian jobs and Australia content including steel.
- Strong investment
- Federal Government to support the steel industry in the same way it supported other industries e.g. vehicles.
EXECUTIVE BUSINESS
CORRESPONDENCE
1. From the Maritime Union of Australia, Sydney Branch:- advising Unions NSW of the Press Release from Tourism and Transport Federation (TTF) Ferries Deal too Little too Late" on the recently negotiated Sydney Ferries EBA . The CEO only Forum was quick off the mark to attack the unions and the successfully negotiated EBA struck between the parties. It was quite clear that this pro-privatisation outfit stooped to any level to undermine the legal industrial outcomes negotiated and to attack the works and unions at Sydney Ferries.
Mr. Brown sees privatisation as a means to reduce wages and conditions of working people. The new jointly bargained EBA delivers major cost savings for the public enterprise and places Sydney Ferries in the best possible position in the market testing profits that can be made through the fire sale of public assets including Sydney Ferries.
Com. M. Lennon moved the Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and Unions NSW condemns the comments of Mr Chris Brown, CEO of TTF Australia in relation to union members at Sydney Ferries.
Further, Unions NSW reiterates its opposition to the privatisation of Sydney Ferries and reminds Mr Brown that the reason that Sydney Ferries is now in public ownership was the inability of the private sector who once operated the ferries on Sydney Harbour to provide an efficient and effective service."
Com. C. Drane seconded the resolution.
CARRIED
2. From the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union:- expressing its concern with respect to the death benefits payable under the Workcover NSW and the Dust Diseases Act have held parity in that they both increase to the average weekly earnings as measured in April and October each year.
Following the increase granted under the Workcover NSW Act that parity has now been broken. The effect is that workers whose death results from a dust disease are not `valued' in the same way as other workers and that detriment extended to the workers dependents. Dependents of workers under the Workcover Act are entitled to a lump sum payment regardless of level of dependency and where there are no dependents the lump sum payment is made to the estate of the deceased worker.
Com. M. Lennon moved the Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and Unions NSW write to Minister Tripodi requesting that the death benefits payable under the Dust Diseases Act be increased to that of the workers who die as a consequence of a work related accident."
Com. C. Drane seconded the resolution.
CARRIED
3. From the Rail Tram and Bus Union:- requesting support from Unions NSW for the ongoing `Save Our Stations Community Campaign' as NSW State Government are allowing RailCorp to cut hundreds of positions from railway stations in NSW.
Com. M. Lennon moved the Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and Unions NSW reiterates our support for the Save our Station Community Campaign and request affiliates to support and participate in further launches of the campaign in Gosford on the 16 June 2009 and Sydney on the 23 June 2009."
Com. N. Lewocki seconded the resolution.
CARRIED
4. From the Australian Services Union of NSW:- regarding wage parity for NSW community sector workers. ASU members demanded that the NSW Government commit to a phase-in wage increases ASU to bring community sector wages in line with the public sector and with the Queensland rates. 400 community sector workers rallied on Sunday 31 May and marched on Parliament House to demand equal pay for the week's budget.
Com. M. Lennon moved the Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and Unions NSW support the campaign by the ASU to achieve wage parity with other community sector employees including those in the NSW public service".
Com. S. McManus seconded the resolution.
CARRIED
5. From the NSW Teachers Federation:- expressing their outrage at the withdrawal of the offer for a successful applicant under the Department of Education and Training Merit selection process as she was on maternity leave and was subsequently informed that the position would be withdrawn on the basis she had not disclosed that she was on maternity leave. The Union said they believe that this is a disgraceful breach of anti-discrimination procedures from an employer who trumpets its EEO, and sets a dangerous precedent not only for women teachers but also other public sector workers.
Com. M. Lennon moved the Executive Recommendation:-
That the correspondence be received and Unions NSW arrange a meeting with the Education Minister as requested".
Com. G.Kelly seconded the resolution.
CARRIED
6. From the HSU and NSW Teachers Federation:- condemning the attack from the NSW opposition on the UnionStart program.
NSW Teachers and HSU congratulated Unions NSW on the UnionStart program.
Com. M. Lennon moved the Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and Unions NSW condemns the misleading and untrue information circulated to the media by the State opposition in relation to the UnionStart Program.
Further, Unions NSW will continue to take initiatives to provide young workers with information about their rights at work."
Com. A. Humphries seconded the resolution.
REPORTS
OH&S
The Secretary, Com. M. Lennon reported that an OH&S video would be played to the meeting. The video would be used as part of the OH&S Harmonization Campaign.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
A meeting of retired union members and their guests will be conducted at the:
Tom Mann Theatre, 136 Chalmers St, Surry Hills. 10:30AM Thu 18 June, 09
Subject: ABCC, The Anti-Union Gestapo.
Speakers: Peter McLelland, President, CFMEU, Tim Ayres, Assistant State Secretary AMWU, Warren Smith, State Secretary, MUA
MEETING ADJOURNED AT 6:50PM
President:____________________________________
About Unions NSW
