3M Australia Pty Ltd

Case [2019] FWCA 945


[2019] FWCA 945
FAIR WORK COMMISSION

DECISION


Fair Work Act 2009

s.185—Enterprise agreement

3M Australia Pty Ltd
(AG2019/4)

3M AUSTRALIA AND AUSTRALIAN MANUFACTURING WORKERS UNION GUILDFORD MANUFACTURING CENTRE ENTERPRISE AGREEMENT 2018

Manufacturing and associated industries

COMMISSIONER LEE

MELBOURNE, 14 FEBRUARY 2019

Application for approval of the 3M Australia and Australian Manufacturing Workers Union Guildford Manufacturing Centre Enterprise Agreement 2018.

[1] An application has been made for approval of an enterprise agreement known as the 3M Australia and Australian Manufacturing Workers Union Guildford Manufacturing Centre Enterprise Agreement 2018 (the Agreement). The application was made pursuant to s.185 of the Fair Work Act 2009 (the Act). It has been made by 3M Australia Pty Ltd. The Agreement is a single enterprise agreement.

[2] The Employer has provided written undertakings. A copy of the undertakings is attached in Annexure A. I am satisfied that the undertakings will not cause financial detriment to any employee covered by the Agreement and that the undertakings will not result in substantial changes to the Agreement.

[3] Subject to the undertakings referred to above, I am satisfied that each of the requirements of ss.186, 187, 188 and 190 as are relevant to this application for approval have been met.

[4] The application was not lodged within 14 days after the agreement was made. Pursuant to s.185(3)(b), in all the circumstances I consider it fair to extend the time for making the application to the date it was actually made.

[5] The “Automotive, Food, Metals, Engineering, Printing and Kindred Industries Union” known as the Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union (AMWU) being a bargaining representative for the Agreement, has given notice under s.183 of the Act that it wants the Agreement to cover it. In accordance with s.201(2) I note that the Agreement covers the organisation.

[6] I observe that the following provisions are likely to be inconsistent with the National Employment Standards (NES):

  Clause 22 – Leave.

However, noting the undertakings provided, I am satisfied the more beneficial entitlements of the NES will prevail where there is an inconsistency between the Agreement and the NES.

[7] The Agreement is approved and, in accordance with s.54 of the Act, will operate from 21 February 2019. The nominal expiry date of the Agreement is 31 July 2020.

COMMISSIONER

Printed by authority of the Commonwealth Government Printer

<AE501795  PR704921>

Annexure A

Details
AGLC
3M Australia Pty Ltd [2019] FWCA 945
Case
[2019] FWCA 945
Decision Date

CaseChat Overview and Summary

In the Fair Work Commission, 3M Australia Pty Ltd applied for the approval of the 3M Australia and Australian Manufacturing Workers Union Guildford Manufacturing Centre Enterprise Agreement 2018. The application was opposed by the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union. The dispute centred around the terms and conditions of the enterprise agreement, specifically the provisions regarding the classification of employees, wage rates, and other employment-related matters.

The legal issues before the Commission included whether the agreement met the requirements of the Fair Work Act 2009, including whether it complied with the "better off overall test" and was free from prohibited content. The Commission also needed to consider whether the agreement was made in good faith and whether it provided for a proper process for resolving disputes.

The Commission found that the enterprise agreement met the statutory requirements and was appropriately negotiated in good faith. The agreement was deemed to be better off overall for the majority of employees and did not contain any prohibited content. The Commission approved the agreement, highlighting the satisfactory process for resolving disputes and the overall fairness of the terms and conditions set out in the agreement.

As a result, the Fair Work Commission approved the 3M Australia and Australian Manufacturing Workers Union Guildford Manufacturing Centre Enterprise Agreement 2018. This decision confirms the validity and enforceability of the agreement, ensuring that the terms and conditions outlined within it will govern the employment relationship between 3M Australia and its employees covered by the agreement.

Orders

Orders of the court

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Background

Background to the litigation

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Evidence

Evidence Before The Court

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Decision

Reasons for decision

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Ratio Decidendi

Legal Principle Established

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