A.G. Coombs Pty Ltd.

[2021] FWCA 1625

[2021] FWCA 1625

FAIR WORK COMMISSION

DECISION

Fair Work Act 2009
s.185—Enterprise agreement

A.G. Coombs Pty Ltd.
(AG2021/4274)

A.G. COOMBS PTY LTD (PROJECTS) EASTERN SEABOARD (VICTORIA, NEW SOUTH WALES AND QUEENSLAND) AND CEPU – PLUMBING DIVISION ENTERPRISE AGREEMENT 2020-2023 ON-SITE EMPLOYEES

Plumbing industry
DEPUTY PRESIDENT COLMAN	MELBOURNE, 25 MARCH 2021

Application for approval of the A.G. Coombs Pty Ltd (Projects) Eastern Seaboard (Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland) and CEPU – Plumbing Division Enterprise Agreement 2020-2023 On-Site Employees.

[1] A.G. Coombs Pty Ltd. has made an application for approval of an enterprise agreement known as the A.G. Coombs Pty Ltd (Projects) Eastern Seaboard (Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland) and CEPU – Plumbing Division Enterprise Agreement 2020-2023 On-Site Employees (the Agreement) pursuant to s 185 of the Fair Work Act 2009 (the Act). The agreement is a single enterprise agreement.

[2] While the application is generally in order, the employees were not provided with the voting instructions seven clear days before the vote. However, in all the circumstances, and having regard to the decision of the Full Bench in Huntsman Chemical Company Australia Pty Limited T/A RMAX Rigid Cellular Plastics & Others, 1 I am satisfied that this constitutes a minor procedural or technical error for the purposes of s 188(2)(a). Further, I am satisfied that the employees covered by the agreement were not likely to have been disadvantaged by the error. As a result, I am satisfied that the Agreement has been genuinely agreed within the meaning of s 188(2) of the Act.

[3] On the basis of the material contained in the application and accompanying declaration, I am satisfied that each of the requirements of ss 186, 187 and 188 as are relevant to this application for approval has been met.

[4] Pursuant to s 202(4) of the Act, the model flexibility term prescribed by the Fair Work Regulations 2009 is taken to be a term of the Agreement.

[5] The Communications, Electrical, Electronic, Energy, Information, Postal, Plumbing and Allied Services Union of Australia, 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) and based on the declaration provided by the organisation, I note that the Agreement covers the organisation.

[6] The Agreement was approved on 25 March 2021 and, in accordance with s 54, will operate from 1 April 2021. The nominal expiry date of the Agreement is 30 September 2023.

DEPUTY PRESIDENT

 1   [2019] FWCFB 318

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