Meeting held : 18 February 2010
Chair of Meeting: The Acting President, Com. Sally McManus
Location of the meeting : Trades Hall Auditorium, 4 Goulburn St Sydney
UNIONS NSW ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING MINUTES
MEETING HELD THURSDAY 18TH FEBRUARY 2010
IN THE TRADES HALL AUDITORIUM AT
4 GOULBURN STREET, SYDNEY, AT 6:00PM
The Acting President, Com. S. McManus occupied the Chair.
PRESENT: - M. Lennon (Secretary), C. Christodoulou (Assistant Secretary),
A. Kerslake (Deputy Assistant Secretary) A. Tattersall (Deputy Assistant Secretary), M. Morey (Deputy Assistant Secretary) and delegates per attendance book.
CREDENTIALS FOR TONIGHT'S MEETING
From The Public Service Association of New South Wales appointing:- C. Staples.
From The Textile Clothing & Footwear Union of Australia (NSW/SA/TAS Branch) appointing:- J. Owen replacing P. Lane and Hung Nguyen replacing S. Davies.
FOR THE ENSUING YEAR
From The Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union, Branch appointing:- T. Ayres, M. Hoban, J. Bandara, D. Kyriacou, P. Reid, G. Simon,
V. Seagrove [Metals Division]. C. Drane, R. Fortescue [T & S Division].
A. Currie, T. Hennessy, S. Vine. [Print Division], S. Morgan, C. Lewin [Vehicle Division].
From The Association of Professional Engineers, Scientists & Managers, Australia appointing:- C. Bolger [Transport Division] and K. Rooke [Colleries Division].
From The Association of Professional Engineers, Scientists & Managers, Australia appointing:- C. Bolger, C. Jones and M. O'Connell.
From The Association of Professional Engineers, Scientists & Managers, Australia, Collieries' Staff Division appointing:- K. Rooke
From Liquor Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union, Liquor & Hospitality Division appointing:- J. Hawker, T. Moriarty, B. Maxworthy, D. Holder, M. Dusevic.
From The NSW/ACT Independent Education Union appointing:- D. Shearman, G. Taylor, C. Matthews, V. Heron, K. Warren, M. Bracken, T. De Boehmler, N. Flores.
From New South Wales Nurses' Association appointing:- B. Holmes, J. Kiejda, R. Burns, P. Byrne, S. Garrett, L. Griffiths, R. Martin, P. Millard, L. Mudronja, H. Rebeiro, L. Ridge, N. Scilinato, D. St Clair, E. Ulm, A. Walsh, M. Whaites, R. Whatman.
From The Funeral & Allied Industries Union of New South Wales appointing:- A. Nye.
From The Finance Sector Union of Australia, NSW Branch appointing: - G. Derrick, C. Gambian, J. Buckland, S. Walsh, N. Singh, B. Gallen, S. Povey, D. Fadoul.
From The Local Government Engineers Association appointing:- G. Brock.
The Secretary, Com. M. Lennon moved: -
"That the credentials be received and the delegates welcomed".
Com. N. Laing seconded.
CARRIED
APOLOGIES
Apologies were received and accepted for: - B. Holmes, J. Kiejda, B. Kruse, J. Cahill, S. Walsh, J. Dixon, L. Smith and C. O'Sheades.
The Secretary, Com. M. Lennon moved:-
"That the apologies be received and accepted".
Com. C. Kavangah seconded.
CARRIED
AGENDA
The Secretary Com. M. Lennon moved the Annual General Meeting Agenda be as follows:
1. Guest Speaker - The Hon John Robertson, MLC Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for Commerce, Minister for Energy, Minister for Public Sector Reform
2. Secretary's Report
3. Trades Hall Report
4. Auditors Report
5. Annual Balance Sheet (consolidated)
6. Appointment of Auditors
7. Presentation of Unions NSW Scrolls of Honour
8. Presentation of Unions Summer Graduation Certificates
The Secretary Com. M. Lennon moved: -
"That the agenda be received".
Com. S. Turner seconded.
CARRIED
GUEST SPEAKER
The Hon John Robertson MLC, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for Commerce, Minister for Energy, Minister for Public Sector Reform.
The Minister reminded delegates not to be complacent about the Coalition's industrial relations policies, particularly in light of the recent statements of the Federal Opposition Leader, Tony Abbott, who has no qualms in bringing back a WorkChoices style industrial relation system.
The Minister also attacked comments from State Opposition Shadow Treasurer, Mike Baird, who indicated he would sack 'so called lazy public servants'. The Minister reminded delegates of Nick Greiner's massive cutbacks of public sector jobs when he was elected in 1988 which amounted to upwards of 40,000 jobs during the term of the Coalition government. He said if Barry O'Farrell was elected the NSW Liberals would decimate government workers in this state.
The Minister said that under the leadership of the new Premier some difficult but correct decisions had already been made notwithstanding enormous pressure from big business and the media. Not privatising Sydney Ferries was a good example of this. The Minister said that governments need to earn the respect of the community and in relation to his portfolio he was committed to implementing the governments' new procurement policy with respect to industrial relations and jobs.
The Secretary, Com. M. Lennon, thanked the Minister for his address and indicated that Unions NSW would be writing to Mr Baird asking him to explain his comments with respect to sacking public servants.
The Secretary, Com M. Lennon, said he looked forward to working with the Minister on important industrial relations issues.
SECRETARY'S ANNUAL REPORT
The Secretary, Com. M. Lennon presented the Unions NSW 2009 Annual Report to the meeting which was circulated to delegates.
Com. M. Lennon thanked all officers and staff for their support over the last 12 months.
The Secretary Com. M. Lennon moved: -
"That the report be received".
Com. B. Tubner seconded.
CARRIED
The Secretary Com. M. Lennon moved: -
"That the report be adopted".
Com. M. Bernardi seconded.
CARRIED
TRADES HALL REPORT
The Secretary, Com. M. Lennon presented the Annual Trades Hall Report, a copy of which is contained in the Annual Report attached to these minutes.
The Secretary Com. M. Lennon moved: -
"That the report be received".
Com. B. Riordan seconded.
CARRIED
The Secretary Com. M. Lennon moved: -
"That the report be adopted".
Com. R. Fortescue seconded.
CARRIED
AUDITOR'S REPORT
The Secretary, Com. M. Lennon presented to the meeting the Auditor's Financial Report for the Labor Council's Management Fund, Property Account, Currawong Holiday Resort, Wireless Committee, Funeral Fund, NSW Narrowcasts Pty Ltd and Trades Hall Association Ltd for the year end 30th June 2009, which was distributed to all delegates and a copy of which is attached to these minutes.
The Secretary Com. M. Lennon moved: -
"That the Auditor's report be received".
Com. R. Mallia seconded.
CARRIED
The Secretary Com. M. Lennon moved: -
"That the Auditor's report be adopted".
Com. G. Derrick seconded.
CARRIED
ANNUAL BALANCE SHEET
The Secretary, Com. M. Lennon presented the Annual Balance Sheet to the meeting, which had been circulated to delegates and a copy of which is attached to these minutes.
The Secretary Com. M. Lennon moved: -
"That the Annual Balance Sheet be received".
Com. J. Cahill seconded.
CARRIED
The Secretary Com. M. Lennon moved: -
"That the Annual Balance Sheet be adopted".
Com. A. Claassens seconded.
CARRIED
APPOINTMENT OF AUDITORS
The Secretary, Com. M. Lennon, in accordance with Rule 13 moved: -
"That DBO Kendalls Audit & Assurance (NSW-VIC) Pty Ltd, the audit company, be appointed Auditors for Unions NSW for 2010".
Com. B. Holmes seconded.
CARRIED
SCROLLS OF HONOUR
The Secretary Com. M. Lennon presented the following delegates with their Scrolls of Honour: -
• Frank Barnes
o NSW Teachers Federation
• Brenda Seymour
o NSW Teachers Federation
• Phil Bradley
o NSW Teachers Federation
• Kathryn Sullivan
o NSW Nurses Association
• Nick Lewocki
o Rail, Tram & Bus Union
Com N. Lewocki thanked Unions for nominating all the recipients. He reminded delegates about the history of the Scroll of Honour.
Com N. Lewocki spoke of the critical role of Unions NSW since its foundation back in the early part of the 20th century. He mentioned the former Secretaries during his years in the union movement.
Com Lewocki spoke of the influence Unions NSW had in achieving a 38 hour week, equal pay and, more recently, paid parental leave. He said he was proud to be part of an organisation that made a difference. Com. Lewocki said that the Your Rights at Work campaign was the most effective campaign ever run by Unions NSW.
PRESENTATION OF UNION SUMMER GRADUATION CERTIFICATES
• Vivian Yu AMWU
• Raffaele Fantasia ASU
• Adam Knobel ASU
• Sera Yilmaz LHMU
• Juneth Ndele LHMU
• Eduardo Cavajal MUA
• Stuart Holt MUA
• Stephanie Mawson NTEU
• Mitchell Wilson NSW Nurse's Assoc.
• Anna Scott-Murphy NSW Nurse's Assoc.
• Andrew Clark NSW Nurse's Assoc.
• Katie Xia NUW
• Caitlin Naidoo Police Assoc.
• Jacob Sarkodee RTBU
• Nicholas Wright RTBU
• Thomas Russell Unions NSW
• Huw Phillips NSW Teacher's Fed.
• Ben Dharmendra NSW Teacher's Fed.
• Sass Hunt USU
MEETING ADJOURNED AT 7:30PM
Acting President:____________________________________
About Unions NSW
