Meeting held : 30 April 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 23RD APRIL 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],
MINUTES: -
The Secretary, Com. M. Lennon moved: -
"That the minutes as circulated be received".
Com. J. Kiejda seconded.
CARRIED
The Secretary, Com. M. Lennon moved: -
"That the minutes as circulated be adopted".
Com. B. Holmes seconded.
CARRIED
CREDENTIALS
From: Textile Clothing & Footwear Union of Australia, NSW Branch replacing Peter Lane with Natasha Flores.
The Secretary, Com. M. Lennon moved: -
"That the credentials be received and the delegates welcomed".
Com. R. Fortescue seconded.
CARRIED
APOLOGIES
Apologies were received and accepted for: - A. Kerslake, L. Hankinson, N. Lewocki, G. Dwyer, A. Claassens, S. McManus.
The Secretary, Com. M. Lennon moved: -
"That the apologies be received and accepted".
Com. B. Kruse seconded.
CARRIED
EXECUTIVE BUSINESS
CORRESPONDENCE
1. From the Australian Workers' Union, Port Kembla, South Coast and Southern Highlands Branch:- requesting that Unions NSW endorse the New Steel Plan presented to the Federal Government in Canberra on Friday, 17th April 2009.
Com. M. Lennon moved the Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and Unions NSW support the AWU's Steel Plan initiative and invite National Secretary, Paul Howes to address a future Council meeting on this matter."
Com. R. Collison seconded the resolution.
CARRIED
2. From the Construction Forestry Mining and Energy, Construction & General Division, New South Wales Branch: - regarding the awarding of contracts for the National Building Economic Stimulus Package for schools to seven companies who have demonstrated commitment to high OH&S standards.
Com. M. Lennon moved the Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and Unions NSW congratulates the NSW Government for the quick action to the implementation of the Stimulus Package and for appointing companies who have demonstrated good OH&S standards".
Com. I. Gemmell seconded the resolution.
CARRIED
3. From the National Tertiary Education Industry Union, New South Wales Branch:- advising Unions NSW that NTEU members employed at the University of Sydney would be taking strike action on Thursday 30th April, 2009 in support of better working conditions towards a new collective agreement.
Com. M. Lennon moved the Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and Unions NSW expresses its support and solidarity with NTEU members at University of Sydney in their strike action proposed for Thursday, 30th April, 2009".
Com. M. Thomson seconded the resolution.
CARRIED
4. From the Sydney May Day Committee: - advising Unions NSW that the annual May Day March would take place on Sunday 3rd May 2009. Affiliates should assemble at Hyde Park North at 12 noon. The committee also advised that the May Day Toast would take place on Friday, 1st May, 2009 at the City of Sydney RSL commencing at 7.00pm.
Com. M. Lennon moved the Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and Unions NSW urge affiliates to participate in this year's May Day March and Toast and that the information with respect to those events be circulated to all unions".
Com. F. Barnes seconded the resolution.
CARRIED
5. From the Public Service Association of New South Wales:- regarding the issue of privatisation of prisons. The PSA said that the ALP has a policy that "Labor opposes the private contract management of prisons". They said that the ALP had a recent meeting of its Law Policy Committee after a submission by the Minister for Corrective Services that he was not breaking ALP policy in privatising two prisons and that the Committee voted in favour of the Minister. The union said that the outcome of this Policy Committee would be referred to the officers of the ALP, however, they predicted that it would go to Admin Committee and then, if Admin Committee endorsed the Policy Committee's outcome, Labor Party policy would be rewritten so that the privatisation of the two prisons would not be seen to breach policy. If the ALP can rewrite policy so easily, no public service would be free from the threat of privatisation. The PSA advised that they were organising a demonstration outside the ALP on Friday, 1st May at 10.00am to coincide with the next Admin Committee.
Com. M. Lennon moved the Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and Unions NSW reiterates its opposition to the privatisation of prisons and supports the actions of the PSA in continuing to highlight the consequences of the State Government's decision, including the rally of 1st May, 2009".
Com. S. Turner seconded the resolution.
CARRIED
REPORTS
1. James Hardie
The Secretary, Com. M. Lennon reported on James Hardie's decision to not make payments into the Asbestos Injury Compensation Fund. He said if James Hardie didn't make good on payments it could leave the Fund without sufficient resources in the future to compensate the victims and their families. Unions NSW would be taking up this issue to ensure the great work done by Bernie Banton and others in the past is not diminished.
Com. M. Lennon moved:-
"That the report be received."
Com. R. Fortescue seconded.
CARRIED
Com. M. Lennon moved:-
"That the report be adopted."
Com. R. Mallia seconded.
CARRIED
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
1. International Day of Mourning
Tuesday 28th April 2009
12.30pm - Reflection Park
Little Pier Street, Darling Harbour
NSW Governor Marie Bashir will be speaking.
2. May Day Dinner
Friday 1st May 2009 from 7.00pm
City of Sydney RSL 565 George Street, Sydney
RSVP to Paul Garrett on 0419 422 589 or paul.garrett@mua.org.au
3. May Day March
Sunday, 3rd May 2009
Assemble at Hyde Park North at 12 Noon
Further information is available on (02) 9265 8438 or
www.sydneymayday.org
MEETING ADJOURNED AT 6:35PM
President:____________________________________
About Unions NSW
