Meeting held : 11 February 2010
Chair of Meeting: The Acting President, Com. G. Derrick
Location of the meeting : Trades Hall Auditorium, 4 Goulburn St Sydney
MEETING HELD THURSDAY 11TH FEBRUARY 2010
IN THE TRADES HALL AUDITORIUM AT
4 GOULBURN STREET, SYDNEY, AT 6:00PM
The Acting President, Com. G. Derrick occupied the Chair
PRESENT: - M. Lennon [Secretary], C. Christodoulou [Assistant Secretary].
OPENING OF THE MEETING
The Acting President, Com. G. Derrick 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".
Com. C. Christodoulou seconded.
CARRIED
The Secretary, Com. M. Lennon moved: -
"That the minutes as circulated be adopted".
Com. B. Tubner seconded.
CARRIED
CREDENTIALS
From: Textile Clothing & Footwear Union of Australia appointing: - Mark Edwards in place of Stephen Davies.
FOR THE ENSURING YEAR
From: NSW Teachers Federation appointing: P. de Graaff, J. Diamond, J. Dixon, S. Edsall, L. Hankinson, J. Irving, J. Lemaire, D. Long, C. O'Sheades, S. Simpson, L. Smith, L. Takayama.
From: Australian Services Union of NSW appointing: M. Flinn, J. Maher, C. Friend, N. Lang, G. Potter-Butler, E. Fry.
From: Textile Clothing & Footwear Union NSW/SA/TAS appointing:
B. Tubner, S. Davies, P. Lane.
The Secretary, Com. M. Lennon moved:-
"That the credentials be received and delegates welcomed".
Com. S. Donnelly seconded.
CARRIED
APOLOGIES
Apologies were received and accepted for: - M. Issanchon, J. Kiejda, R. Collison, F. Barnes, C. O'Shea, J. Diamond, G. Dwyer.
The Secretary, Com. M. Lennon moved:-
"That the apologies be received and accepted".
Com. M. Edwards seconded.
CARRIED
EXECUTIVE BUSINESS
CORRESPONDENCE
1. From Rail Tram and Bus Union NSW Branch:- regarding the Daily Telegraph story and editorial on Monday 1st February, in which Infrastructure Partnerships Australia called on the Government to privatise the rail network.
Infrastructure Partnerships Australia is a corporate lobby group who have among their patrons and board members former Premier, Nick Greiner and representatives of Macquarie Bank and Transfield. They are continuing their push to break up the system and place public investment into the hands of private monopolies.
The RTBU congratulated the Government, firstly for keeping Sydney Ferries in public ownership and, secondly by highlighting that the public sector provides better services, citing the failures of Connex/Veolia in the Victorian rail network - where 4,538 trains were cancelled in the first 3 months of 2009.
The RTBU welcomed the acknowledgment by the Premier that maintaining the rail network in public hands would result in better services.
Com. M. Lennon moved the Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and Unions NSW congratulates the swift response by Premier Keneally to reject calls by Infrastructure Partnerships Australia to privatise the NSW Rail network.
Her actions including the State Government's decision not to privatise Sydney Ferries are welcomed by NSW and the broader community."
Com. A. Claassens seconded the resolution.
CARRIED
2. From the Union Aid Abroad- APHEDA:- reported on the APHEDA Project in the Philippines sponsored by Unions NSW in February 2009 with a $5,000 donation.
They said that the project was progressing well, with OH&S and health provisions for the families working on the garbage dump in Manila, Philippines, and also some childcare facilitates for pre-school children as an alternative to working on the dump.
To continue this project APHEDA said they would greatly appreciate a further grant of $5,000 in 2010.
Peter Jennings from APHEDA spoke to the correspondence.
Delegates were shown a video of the living conditions in the Philippines.
Com. M. Lennon moved the Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and Unions NSW make its annual donation of $5,000 to the APHEDA Skillslink Program."
Com. R. Fortescue seconded the resolution.
CARRIED
3. From the Australian Workers Union:- regarding the lack of maintenance funding for the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
In conjunction with all other unions who maintain the Sydney Harbour Bridge, CFMEU, AMWU and ETU, the AWU requested a meeting with RTA management and the Minister for Transport concerning the proliferation of contracting work carried out on Sydney Harbour Bridge.
The issues included;
• Rigging on the New Year's display
2009 was the first year union members were denied carrying out rigging work for the New Year's display.
• News article regarding rust on the Bridge
The allegation was that RTA workforce cannot keep up with the maintenance cycle and therefore contractors should be brought in to complete the jot to stop the rusting process.
• Building platforms for painting and repairs.
RTA management gave the 99 platforms to an employer, with a non-union workforce at a Smithfield factory, where wages and conditions are well below the standard established for RTA workers.
The NSW Government had the responsibility to ensure that the Bridge and its history were properly maintained. The RTA had reduced the workforce and replaced it with contractors. The AWU said its members were proud to maintain one of the best known icons in the world.
Com. M. Lennon moved the Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and Unions NSW acknowledge the great work over many decades that the State Government Harbour Bridge workforce have contributed to the maintenance of the Bridge.
Notwithstanding, Unions NSW calls upon the NSW Government to ensure there is adequate resources provided to the RTA to maintain this Australian icon.
Further, a meeting be organised with the Minister as requested with the respect of unsatisfactory use of contractors on Sydney Harbour Bridge maintenance work."
Com. S. Bali seconded the resolution.
CARRIED
4. From the Construction Forestry Mining & Energy Union: regarding their member, Mani Saravanan who came to Australia in 2008 on a 457 visa. Mr Saravanan worked as a fabricator for Haldilka Nominees Pty Ltd in Moree for 2 years.
Mr Saravanan had accrued enough annual leave entitlements to travel home to India to get married but the company refused his leave requests and they would not provide him with an annual leave form or discuss his proposed leave.
Mr Saravanan applied for leave and left Australia to get married on 26 November 2009. While on his honeymoon he received an email from the company informing him that his employment was now terminated and stated "you have abandoned your position ... forfeiting all your entitlements".
Mr Saravanan has been the latest known victim of exploitation of guest workers employed under the subclass 457 scheme.
The CFMEU called upon Unions NSW and affiliates to support the campaign to stop exploitation of guest workers by companies like Haldika Nominees.
Com. M. Lennon moved the Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and Unions NSW condemn the actions of Ironbark Fabrications in exploiting its 457 Visa worker Mani Saravanan.
Further, Unions NSW calls upon the company to make good on Mr Saravanan entitlements and calls upon affiliates to support the general campaign to stop the exploitation of 457 visa workers."
Com. R. Radja seconded the resolution.
CARRIED
5. From the NSW Teachers Federation:- thanking Unions NSW and affiliates for the support shown at the TAFE strike rally today. They said that over 3,000 teachers attended the rally at Sydney town Hall and country teachers also turned out in large numbers across NSW.
The Federation said that all TAFE teachers indicated their determination to continue to take action, both industrially and politically, against the WorkChoices style changes to their working conditions.
The Federation thanked Unions NSW and affiliates for their continuing support.
Com. M. Lennon moved the Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and Unions NSW continue its support of NSW TAFE Teachers and in doing so seek a meeting with the Premier of NSW with a view to resolving this dispute."
Com. J. Lemaire seconded the resolution.
CARRIED
REPORTS
1. Returning Officer's Report
The Secretary Com. M. Lennon reported that the returning officer Vern Falconer advised that at the close of nominations for the position of Vice President (vacated by Barry Johnson) he had received only one nomination from Geoff Derrick.
Accordingly, the returning officer declared Geoff Derrick elected unopposed to the position of Vice President.
The Secretary Com. M. Lennon moved:
"That the Returning Officers report be received."
Com. S. Price seconded.
CARRIED
The Secretary Com. M. Lennon moved:
"That the Reporting Officer's report be endorsed and that Com. Derrick be congratulated.".
Com. B. Edghill seconded.
CARRIED
ANNOUNCEMENTS
The Unions NSW Annual General Meeting will be held next Thursday 18th February at 6pm.
The Guest Speaker will be The Honourable John Robertson MLC, Minister for Industrial Relations.
There will be no Executive prior to the AGM and no correspondence will be dealt with during the AGM next week.
Drinks and light food will be served after the Annual General Meeting.
MEETING ADJOURNED AT 6:30PM
Acting President:____________________________________
About Unions NSW
