Meeting held : 19 November 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 19TH NOVEMBER 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].
MINUTES: -
The Secretary, Com. M. Lennon moved: -
"That the minutes as circulated be received".
Com. B. Kruse seconded.
CARRIED
The Secretary, Com. M. Lennon moved: -
"That the minutes as circulated be adopted".
Com. G. K. Sullivan seconded.
CARRIED
CREDITENTIALS
From: The Textile Clothing & Footwear Union of Australia, NSW Branch replacing Peter Lane with Graydon Welsh.
From: The Police Association of NSW replacing Bob Pritchard, Mick spring and Bob Morgan with Rod Harty, Raff Del Vecchio and Alex Boromisa.
From: The SDA replacing David Bliss with Mitchell Worsley.
From: The Australian Workers' Union replacing Paul Farrow with Scott Bean.
The Secretary, Com. M. Lennon moved: -
"That the minutes as circulated be received".
Com. B. Tubner seconded.
CARRIED
APOLOGIES
Apologies were received and accepted for: - M. Issanchon, G. Kelly, S. Turner,
C. O'Sheades, P. Remfrey, B. Kruse, G. McLean.
The Secretary, Com. M. Lennon moved:-
"That the apologies be received and accepted".
Com. A. Ferguson seconded.
CARRIED
QUESTION WITHOUT NOTICE
Com. F. Barnes asked the Secretary whether he was aware of the White Ribbon Day Campaign (Violence against Women) and awareness of Aids Day. He asked the Secretary if he could sell ribbons and the like at the next meeting to raise money for these causes. The Secretary, Com. M. Lennon responded that Unions NSW were happy for the sale of White ribbons and other such materials to take place at the next meeting.
EXECUTIVE BUSINESS
CORRESPONDENCE
1. From NSW Teachers Federation:- regarding support for "Save Hurlstone's Education Agricultural Property" (SHEAP) organisation. The Federation said that this organisation had been established to work towards stopping the NSW Government's proposal to sell the Hurlstone Agricultural High School Farm to developers. They said that the government proposal would replace this space with 3,000 houses and other infrastructure. The National Trust of Australia has listed Hurlstone on its National Heritage register.
The Secretary, Com. M. Lennon moved the Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and Unions NSW refer the matter to a meeting of construction unions for their consideration and report back to executive".
Com. J. Diamond seconded the resolution.
CARRIED
2. From the Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union:- regarding their concerns in relation to the proposed amendments to workers compensation legislation.
The CFMEU said that they were concerned with respect to proposed workers compensation changes including the failure of the amendments to deal with the "widdup" problem. These proposals are not seen to benefit the workers and may reduce their rights.
The Secretary, Com. M. Lennon moved the Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and Unions NSW also expresses its concern with respect to proposals in the Workers Compensation Bill which may reduce workers entitlements and rights.
Accordingly, the matters raised by CFMEU be taken up with the NSW Government".
Com. R. Malin seconded the resolution.
CARRIED
3. From the Shop, Distributive and Allied Services Union:- regarding the rejection by the Government to allow big retailers to trade on Boxing Day.
The SDA congratulated the Government on rejecting the applications of Big W, Woolworths, Coles and Bi Lo to trade on Boxing Day 2009. Further, they said that the new Shop Trading Hours Act ensured that work on Saturday 26th December in tourist areas would now be voluntary for all employees.
The Secretary, Com. M. Lennon moved the Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and Unions NSW congratulates the NSW Government for rejecting the application by major retailers to open on Boxing Day 2009.
Further, we once again congratulate the SDA for campaigning to ensure its members are able to enjoy time with their families".
Com. G. Dwyer seconded the resolution.
CARRIED
Suspension of standing orders
The Secretary, Com. M Lennon moved suspension of standing orders to hear a presentation from Dr Shane Oliver.
Com. G. Derrick seconded the resolution.
CARRIED
GUEST SPEAKER
Secretary Com. M. Lennon introduced Dr Shane Oliver, Chief Economist, AMP Capital Investors and invited him to address delegates. Dr Oliver addressed the delegates on working people, the downturn and the recovery.
The Secretary, Com. M. Lennon thanked Dr Oliver for his address.
REPORTS
Currawong
The Secretary, Com. M. Lennon reported on the outcome and recommendation of the Finance Committee held on 25th September 2009 with respect to the sale of Currawong to ECO Villages.
The Secretary Com. M. Lennon moved:-
"That the report be received."
Com. S. McManus seconded.
CARRIED
Secretary Com. M. Lennon moved:-
"That the report be adopted and the decision of the Finance Committee on the 25th September 2009 regarding the sale of Currawong to ECO Villages be endorsed."
Com. T. Moriarty seconded the resolution.
CARRIED
Growth Conference
The Secretary, Com. M. Lennon thanked all unions who gave presentations at the Growth Conference. He said the Conference had been a great success. He said that
Unions NSW would review the outcomes and look at progressing a number of issues in the New Year.
The Secretary Com. M. Lennon moved:-
"That the report be received and that Chris Christodoulou, Adam Kerslake, Mark Morey and other offices including the ACTU be thanked for their work in putting the conference together."
Com. G. Derrick seconded.
CARRIED
State Industrial Relations Referral to the National System
The Secretary, Com. M. Lennon reported on the State Government's decision to refer the remainder of the private sector and State corporations to the Federal IR System. Com. Lennon expressed his disappointment that the State corporations had been forced into the Federal jurisdiction. He said that Unions NSW would be holding negations with the State Government with respect to ensuring that unions and employees of State utilities had access to arbitration as part of the grievance procedure.
The Secretary Com. M. Lennon moved:-
"That the report be received."
Com. B. Holmes seconded.
CARRIED
The Secretary Com. M. Lennon moved:-
"That the report be adopted and that Unions NSW negotiate with the State Government to ensure unions and employees of the State owned corporations had access to arbitration as part of their grievance procedures."
Com. R. Harty seconded.
CARRIED
MEETING ADJOURNED AT 6:30PM
Acting President:___________________________________
About Unions NSW
