Meeting held : 13 August 2009
Chair of Meeting: The Acting President, Comrade Barry Johnson
Location of the meeting : Trades Hall Auditorium, 4 Goulburn St Sydney
UNIONS NSW MEETING MINUTES
MEETING HELD THURSDAY 13 AUGUST 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].
OPENING OF THE MEETING
The Acting President Barry Johnson opened the meeting and in doing so recognised the traditional owners of the land on which the meeting was held, The Gadigal People of the Eora Nation.
MINUTES: -
The Secretary, Com. M. Lennon moved:-
"That the minutes as circulated be received".
Seconded: Com. B. Tubner
CARRIED
The Secretary, Com. M. Lennon moved:-
"That the minutes as circulated be adopted".
Seconded: Com. S. Woodward
<\b>CARRIED
CREDENTIALS
From The NSW Teachers Federation appointing:- Susan Armstead in place of John Irving, Natasha Gee in place of Sally Edsall, Diane Byers in place of Lenore Hankinson, Maree Derwent in place of Maree O'Halloran and Phil Ward in place of Frank Barnes.
The Secretary, Com. M. Lennon moved: -
"That the credentials be received and the delegates welcomed".
Com. C. O'Sheades seconded.
CARRIED
APOLOGIES
Apologies were received and accepted for: - M. Issanchon, A. Tattersall, B. Parker, B. Kruse.
The Secretary, Com. M. Lennon moved: -
"That the apologies be received and accepted".
Com. J. Dixon seconded.
CARRIED
MOTION OF CONDOLENCE
Vale: Com. John Parkin
The Secretary, Com. M. Lennon advised that it was his sad duty to report the passing of Comrade. John Parkin, formerly Assistant State Secretary of the NSW Branch of the AMWU and a delegate to the NSW Labor Council.
John was born in Scotland and started his working life as an apprentice fitter and turner at the steelworks in northern England and was a committed trade unionist from that time.
As an official of the AMWU for over 25 years John earned the respect of the membership and that of other unions. However, without doubt John's finest work was in the field of OH&S and Trade Union education. He very clearly understood that OH&S is very much Union business, devoting much of his working life to the education and training of workers both here and in emerging nations.
In 2004 John left the Union to take up an appointment as Chair of the NSW Transport Appeals Board; a position he held with absolute distinction and again where he was held with enormous regard and respect.
John was a decent man; larger than life, who worked hard with an honest commitment to the cause of working people. John will be sadly missed by all those who knew him and worked with him and Unions NSW passes on its condolences to John's wife Wendy and family.
I know that all at Unions NSW will share our loss and that of John's family.
Com. M. Lennon moved that Unions NSW pass on its condolence to John's wife Wendy and his family.
Com. G. Dwyer seconded
CARRIED BY DELEGATES
OBSERVING A MINUTES SILENCE
EXECUTIVE BUSINESS
CORRESPONDENCE
1. From the Maritime Union of Australia: - Requesting support for the campaign launch to Stop the Privatisation of the Sydney Ferries.
The campaign launch and first major community public event will be held Friday, 21 August at 8.30am at Circular Quay under the banner "Gotta Love Sydney Ferries / Some Things are too Important to Sell" and will include various speakers including Jack Mundy.
The Secretary, Com. M. Lennon moved the Executive Recommendation:
That the correspondence be received and Unions NSW request affiliates support the "Gotta Love Sydney Ferries Campaign" by attending the Launch on: Friday 21 August at 8.30am Circular Quay."
Com N. Lewocki seconded the resolution
CARRIED
2. From the Fair Work Ombudsman: - advising the new appointment of the Fair Work Ombudsman, Nicolas Wilson. As part of the newly established Federal workplace relations restructure, the Fair Work Ombudsman will work closely with Fair Work Australia to fulfil the objectives of the Fair Work Act 2009,
The Secretary, Com. M. Lennon moved the Executive Recommendation:
"That the correspondence be received and Unions NSW welcome the appointment of the New Fair Work Ombudsman and that Mr Nicholas Wilson be invited to address a future meeting of Unions NSW".
Com B. Tubner seconded the resolution
CARRIED
3. From the Australian Services Union:- regarding the rally on Friday 7th August by ASU members in the community sector for equal pay with their public sector colleagues. The rally was well supported with 2,000 people participating in Dubbo, Albury and Sydney. The Sydney meeting marched to NSW parliament House with a demand that the NSW Government support their demand for equal pay.
The Secretary, Com. M. Lennon moved the Executive Recommendation:
"That the correspondence be received and Unions NSW congratulate the ASU on their campaign to date to achieve equal pay for all of their members in the community services sector".
Com P. Kelly seconded the resolution
CARRIED
4. From the Police Association of NSW:- seeking assistance from Unions NSW to publicise the forthcoming protest rally to be held Parliament House on Tuesday 1st September.
Their campaign for a fair pay rise for the state's police officers followed a breakdown in the negotiations earlier this year. The Government have offered a 4% per annum pay rise contingent of tradeoffs of critical member entitlements including workers compensation top up pay and reduced shift allowances. The Government have refused to agree to utilise a range of initiates which were put forward by front line police in a comprehensive document produced by the Association, titled Working Smarter. Instead of stripping protections for police who have been injured protecting the community of NSW have proposed that the required savings can be achieved by improving injury management practices.
After several months of fruitless negotiations police have embarked upon workplace action in the form of a fine free period. This is denying the Government revenue from on the spot fines without compromising public safety. The next step to show how serious police are about protecting their entitlements is to hold a protest rally.
The Secretary, Com. M. Lennon moved the Executive Recommendation:
"That the correspondence be received and Unions NSW continue to support the Police Association of NSW with respect to their salary dispute.
Further, details of the Police Association's rally on 1st September be circulated to all affiliates for their support".
Com J. Dixon seconded the resolution.
CARRIED
5. From the Rail Tram and Bus Union:- regarding the recently released report into level crossing safety.
The report summarised evidence gathered in the course of the committee investigations and provides a course of action based on its conclusions and recommendations.
The RTBU said that rail level crossings were the greatest safety risk for the Australian Rail Industry and, whilst they think the report is a step in the right direction, they believe that more needs to be done in this area. The union said that State and Federal Governments need to develop a long term level crossing strategy with the involvement of the RBTU and its members.
The RTBU sought support from Unions NSW and its affiliates to press governments at a state and national level to address the various recommendations in a timely manner and to consult with the RTBU who are at risk on a daily basis.
The Secretary, Com. M. Lennon moved the Executive Recommendation:
"That the correspondence be received and Unions NSW supports the position of the RTBU for the Federal and State Governments to address the various recommendations associated with the Stay Safe Committee Report.
Further, that we call upon State & Federal Governments to consult with the RTBU with respect to improving safety at rail level crossings".
Com A. Claassens seconded the resolution.
CARRIED
REPORTS
OH&S Report
The Secretary, Com. M. Lennon reported on the OH&S Harmonisation campaign.
He advised that the Deputy Prime Minister, Julia Gillard has agreed to have negotiations between Unions and State Ministers. A delegate's forum will be held on 31st August 2009 regarding the campaign.
The Secretary, Com. M. Lennon moved:-
"That the report be received and noted."
Com. G. Dwyer seconded
CARRIED
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Sydney Ferries Campaign Launch
"Gotta Love Sydney Ferries / Some Things are too Important to Sell"
8.30am Friday 21 August 2009 at Circular Quay, Speaker: Jack Mundy
MEETING ADJOURNED AT 6.25 PM
Acting President:____________________________________
About Unions NSW
