APMS Operations Australia Pty Ltd

Case [2022] FWCA 2228


[2022] FWCA 2228

FAIR WORK COMMISSION

DECISION

Fair Work Act 2009

s.185—Enterprise agreement

APMS Operations Australia Pty Ltd

(AG2022/2007)

APMS Operations Australia Pty Ltd - Enterprise Agreement 2022

Manufacturing and associated industries

COMMISSIONER O'NEILL

MELBOURNE, 6 JULY 2022

Application for approval of the APMS Operations Australia Pty Ltd - Enterprise Agreement 2022

  1. APMS Operations Australia Pty Ltd has applied for approval of an enterprise agreement known as the APMS Operations Australia Pty Ltd - Enterprise Agreement 2022 (the Agreement). The application was made pursuant to s.185 of the Fair Work Act 2009 (the Act) and is a single enterprise agreement.

  1. The agreement title in the Notice of Representational Rights (NERR) distributed to employees is slightly different to the agreement title in clause 1 of the Agreement. However, I am satisfied that the Agreement would have been genuinely agreed to but for the minor technical departure from the NERR requirements under s.174 of the Act and that the employees covered by the Agreement were not likely to have been disadvantaged by this error. Accordingly, I exercise the discretion conferred by s.188(2) of the Act.

  1. 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. The undertakings are taken to be a term of the Agreement.

  1. 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.

  1. Pursuant to s.205(2) of the Act, the model consultation term prescribed by the Fair Work Regulations 2009 is taken to be a term of the Agreement.

  1. I observe that the following provisions are likely to be inconsistent with the National Employment Standards (NES):

·           Clause 4.11 – Notification of Absences;

·           Clause 9 – Overtime;

·           Clause 16 – Compassionate Leave; and

·           Clause 19 – Public Holidays.

However, noting clause 3.4 of the Agreement, I am satisfied the more beneficial entitlements of the NES will prevail where there is an inconsistency between the Agreement and the NES.

  1. The Agreement is approved and, in accordance with s.54 of the Act, will operate from 13 July 2022. The nominal expiry date of the Agreement is 12 July 2025.

COMMISSIONER

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Annexure A

Details
AGLC
APMS Operations Australia Pty Ltd [2022] FWCA 2228
Case
[2022] FWCA 2228
Decision Date

CaseChat Overview and Summary

The case of APMS Operations Australia Pty Ltd involved a dispute regarding the approval of the 2022 Enterprise Agreement. The applicant, APMS Operations Australia Pty Ltd, sought approval of the agreement under the Fair Work Act 2009. The Fair Work Commission (FWC) was tasked with reviewing and determining whether the agreement met the legal requirements for approval.

The primary legal issue before the Commission was whether the agreement complied with the statutory provisions outlined in the Fair Work Act 2009. This included assessing whether the agreement covered the appropriate bargaining unit, contained necessary terms and conditions, and was negotiated in good faith. The Commission also needed to determine if the agreement provided for the proper representation of employees' interests and if it met the public interest test.

The Fair Work Commission examined the provisions of the agreement and the processes involved in its negotiation. The Commission found that the agreement was negotiated in good faith and included appropriate terms and conditions. It also determined that the agreement covered the correct bargaining unit and provided for the fair representation of employees. Importantly, the Commission concluded that the agreement met the public interest test, as it did not undermine the broader economic and social objectives of the Act. Based on these findings, the Commission approved the Enterprise Agreement.

Consequently, the Fair Work Commission approved the APMS Operations Australia Pty Ltd - Enterprise Agreement 2022. The decision was made on the basis that the agreement met all statutory requirements, including those related to good faith negotiation, appropriate bargaining unit coverage, and the public interest. This approval now allows the agreement to be enforced between the employer and the 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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