Meeting held : 03 December 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 3RD DECEMBER 2009
IN THE TRADES HALL AUDITORIUM AT
4 GOULBURN STREET, SYDNEY, AT 6:00PM
The Acting President, Com. B. Johnson occupied the Chair and
Com. B. Johnson welcomed President M. Issanchon.
PRESENT: -M. Lennon [Secretary], C. Christodoulou [Assistant Secretary].
OPENING OF THE MEETING
The Acting President, Com. B. 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".
Com. B. Hawkins seconded.
CARRIED
The Secretary, Com. M. Lennon moved: -
"That the minutes as circulated be adopted".
Com. F. Barnes seconded.
CARRIED
CREDENTIALS
From: Public Service Association of NSW appointing: - Greg Shaw in place of Steve Turner.
From: Textile Clothing & Footwear Union of Australia appointing:-
Mark Edwards in place of Peter Lane.
The Secretary, Com. M. Lennon moved:-
"That the credentials be received and accepted".
Com. D. Long seconded.
CARRIED
APOLOGIES
Apologies were received and accepted for: - J. Kiejda, S. O'Sheades, R. Collison, B. Kruse, A. Tattersall, A. Kerslake.
The Secretary, Com. M. Lennon moved:-
"That the apologies be received and accepted".
Com. B. Tubner seconded.
CARRIED
MOTION OF CONDOLENCE
Vale: Com. Jim Hennessy
The Secretary, Com. M. Lennon advised delegates that it was his sad duty to report the passing of Comrade Jim Hennessy.
Com. M. Lennon said that Com. Hennessy was a committed member and activist of the CPSU/PSA for many years. Jim was a Workplace Delegate at University of Western Sydney and a tireless worker for the Lindsay YR@W and Stop the Cell-Off Campaigns. Jim passed away 12 November after losing his battle with cancer.
Jim was a great loss to the PSA union and the union movement in general and his dedication and enthusiasm would be greatly missed. The respect for Jim was apparent at his funeral by the number of people who attended including State Minister John Robertson, NSW Labor General Secretary, Matthew Thistlethwaite all of whom had the privilege of Jim's acquaintance through his involvement in various campaigns.
One of Jim's greatest moments was meeting and having his photo taken with Prime Minister Kevin Rudd who thanked him for his hard work during the Rights at Work Campaign.
Com. G. Dwyer seconded.
CARRIED BY DELEGATES
OBSERVING A MINUTES SILENCE
QUESTION WITHOUT NOTICE
Com. J. Diamond asked the Secretary whether he was aware of the APHEDA Middle East Study Tour and whether affiliates could support the APHEDA initiative.
The Secretary Com. M. Lennon said that affiliates should support the APHEDA initiative.
GUEST SPEAKER
The Secretary Com. M. Lennon introduced three guests from Miscarriages of Justice Organisation (M.O.J.O). Mr Gerry Conlon, Mr Paddy Hill and Mr John McManus all of whom are well renowned defenders of human rights, and members of either the Birmingham 6 or Guildford 4 who were innocent men gaoled for crimes they did not commit.
MOJO is a human rights organisation set up by Paddy Hill and John McManus who are dedicated to assist innocent people both in prison and after their release.
Their main objective was to help counsel innocent people after they are released from prison and to gradually help them come to terms with the modern world.
MOJO is committed to the establishment of a Retreat to help depressurise victims and prepare them for their return to the society from which they should never have been taken.
The Retreat will be a unique project, using shared counselling experiences to help victims gradually come to terms with what has happened to them. All of them suffer from post traumatic stress disorders and are in desperate need of help. It is for this reason they are launching a new campaign to raise £500,000 to set up a MOJO Retreat.
Gerry Conlon, John McManus and Paddy Hill all spoke of their horrendous experiences in being wrongly gaoled for crimes they did not commit and the need for the community to support MOJO to ensure that we prevent such injustices happening in the future.
Secretary Com. M. Lennon responded by thanking Paddy, John & Jerry for their address to the delegates and said it was a most inspirational and emotional address to hear of their struggle for human rights.
The delegates responded by giving an overwhelming applause and 3 standing ovations to the guest speakers Gerry Conlon, John McManus and Paddy Hill.
EXECUTIVE BUSINESS
CORRESPONDENCE
1. From Rail Tram and Bus Union, NSW Branch:- announcing the retirement of Nick Lewocki, Secretary of the branch after 30 years of representation of rail tram and bus workers. Com. N. Lewocki said it had been a privilege to be part of the trade union movement and Branch Secretary of the RTBU. Nick thanked the NSW trade union movement for their tremendous support, encouragement and assistance over the years. He said the Alex Claasens and Phillip Kessey would ensure the RTBU continues to support Unions NSW and the affiliated unions.
Com. M. Lennon moved the Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and Unions NSW congratulates Nick Lewocki for his outstanding services to the Trade Union Movement."
Com. P. Kessey seconded the resolution.
CARRIED
2. From the Australian Services Union of NSW:- regarding the Walk Against Warming on Saturday December 12th at 1pm Martin Place. Walk Against Warming is a global community event. In NSW the event is organised by the Nature Conservation Council of NSW and is supported by Environmental group, Non-Government organisations and several Unions NSW affiliates. December is D-Day for the planet as world leaders meet in Copenhagen to do a global deal on climate change.
Com. M. Lennon moved the Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and Unions NSW endorse the Walk Against Warming and request affiliates to support this event".
Com. G. Kelly seconded the resolution.
CARRIED
3. From the Rail Tram and Bus Union:- regarding the RTBU's recent action in the Federal court of Australia against RailCorp for breach of the Enterprise Agreement. The union said that the Federal Court had determined that the penalty of $70,000.00 was to be paid by RailCorp for not filling vacancies at Town Hall railway station as required by the Enterprise Agreement. The RTBU said that this decision sent a strong message to the NSW Government and RailCorp management that workers rights were important and the RTBU would not hesitate to use all available resources to protect members working conditions. They said that RTBU members supported the union by providing affidavits and had appeared as witnesses in support of the union claim. The win was not only important for RTBU members but ensured customer service levels at our major CBD railway stations would be maintained through proper staffing levels.
Com. M. Lennon moved the Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and Unions NSW and Unions NSW congratulate the RTBU with respect to their Federal Court victory against RailCorp, relating to the non filling of vacancies at Town Hall Station."
Com. A. Claassens seconded the resolution.
CARRIED
4. From the Electrical Trade Union:- expressing concern at the election of Tony Abbott as Liberal Leader. The union said that they had seen the first indications that Mr Abbott, if elected Prime Minister, would seek to return the nation to the dark days of WorkChoices. Mr Abbott actions in blocking the passage of the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme would threaten both the long term sustainability of the planet as well as hundreds and thousands of clean energy jobs. They said that the election of Tony Abbott was a dangerous step for the Liberal Party. The ETU said, that as a labor movement, we should do all we can to consign him to the dustbin of political history.
Com. M. Lennon moved the Executive Recommendation:-
"That the correspondence be received and Unions NSW condemns Tony Abbott's view that WorkChoices was good for the community.
Further, we call upon all affiliates to begin discussions with their members about the possible return to AWA's if Tony Abbott was elected Prime Minister of Australia."
Com. B. Riordan seconded the resolution.
CARRIED
REPORTS
1. Returning Officers Report
The Returning Officer, Com. V. Falconer, reported that in accordance with Rule 24 that at the close of nominations for position of Deputy Assistant Secretary at 4.00pm on 3rd December 2009 the following nomination was received:
Mark Morey, Unions NSW
As only one (1) nomination was received for the position, I therefore declare Mark Morey elected as Deputy Assistant Secretary.
Com. M. Lennon moved:-
"That the report be received and adopted"
Com. G. Dwyer seconded
CARRIED
2. Notice of the Alteration of Rules pursuant to Rule 40
The Secretary, Com. M. Lennon gave notice of the following Rule changes which would be dealt with at the 2010 Annual General Meeting.
Unions NSW Proposed Rule Changes 2010
It is proposed to amend Unions NSW rules to;
• Make corrections to Appendix 1 as it relates to District Councils, and
• Make changes to rule 4 and Appendix 2 as they relate to clarifying the accountability of the SCLC Secretary with respect to day to day work in between meetings of the SCLC Executive.
The proposed rule changes are as follows:
By adding a new sentence to rule 4(e) as follows;
"in determining its work plan each Branch Council shall ensure its activities are focused on growing union membership as a priority."
By deleting in rule 4(f)(iii) the word "and".
By deleting in rule 4(f)(iv) the word "only"
By adding in rule 4(f) a new (v) as follows;
"Between South Coast Labour Council Executive meetings the Secretary of the South Coast Labour council shall be accountable to the Secretary of Unions NSW for his/her day to day work consistent with the responsibilities of other officers of Unions NSW."
By adding to rule 4(g)(i) the following words;
"consistent with the policies and procedures of Unions NSW;"
By deleting the words in rule 4(m) and substituting the following:
"This rule may be amended in accordance with Rule 40."
By deleting in Appendix 1 the word "Regional" where ever found and substituting the word "District".
By deleting in Appendix 1 the reference to "Rule 4(d)" and substituting "Rule 5(h)"
By adding in Appendix 2 a new (g) as follows;
"No other accounts shall be held or operated by the South Coast Labour Council without agreement of Unions NSW".
Com. Barry Johnson - Retirement
Acting President, Com. B. Johnson announced that this would be his last meeting of Unions NSW as he would be retiring from his position as Vice President. Barry thanked Unions NSW and all of the affiliates for their support over the years.
The Secretary, Com. M. Lennon thanked Barry Johnson for his great contribution to the Trade Union Movement and said that Barry had been a great asset to Unions NSW particularly when filling in as Acting President.
Com. Nick Lewocki's Secretary, RTBU Retirement
Nick Lewocki also thanked Unions NSW and all affiliates for the support that they had given him whilst an officer and Secretary of the RTBU.
The Secretary, Com. M. Lennon thanked Nick for his contribution and mentoring.
He said that Nick was a former Labour Council Officer, a great negotiator and strategist and that Nick approached the job with upmost integrity lea and that he was leaving the union in capable hands.
The Secretary, Com. M. Lennon wished Nick and Barry all the best in their retirement and said that they would be greatly missed on a personal and professional level.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
RTBU - Commuter Survey
A Commuter Survey would be distributed to commuters as part of the Better Services Campaign.
Final Meeting Festivities
The Secretary, Com M. Lennon invited delegates to join together for drinks, light snacks and entertainment by the band "JJ Son con Idabelis' to celebrate the last meeting for 2009.
Unions NSW Meetings will recommence on Thursday 4th February 2010
MEETING ADJOURNED AT 6:50PM
Acting President:____________________________________
About Unions NSW
