Arnold Electrical & Data Installations Pty Ltd Trading AS Arnold Electrical Data Instrumentation

Case [2025] FWCA 1982


[2025] FWCA 1982

FAIR WORK COMMISSION

DECISION

Fair Work Act 2009

s.185—Enterprise agreement

Arnold Electrical & Data Installations Pty Ltd Trading AS Arnold Electrical Data Instrumentation

(AG2025/1649)

ARNOLD ENTERPRISE AGREEMENT 2025-2028

Electrical contracting industry

DEPUTY PRESIDENT DOBSON

BRISBANE, 16 JUNE 2025

Application for approval of the Arnold Enterprise Agreement 2025-2028

  1. This decision deals with an application made for approval of an enterprise agreement known as the Arnold Enterprise Agreement 2025-2028 (the Agreement). The Application was made pursuant to s.185 of the Fair Work Act 2009 (the Act) by Arnold Electrical & Data Installations Pty Ltd T/A Arnold Electrical Data Instrumentation (the Applicant). The Agreement is a single enterprise agreement.

  1. The Notice of Employee Representational Rights (NERR) distributed to employees appears to have been the pre-6 June 2023 version and it was also provided on company letterhead rather than in the prescribed form. However, I am satisfied that the Agreement would have been genuinely agreed to but for the minor procedural departure from the prescribed form requirements of the NERR under s.174(1A) of the Act and that the employees covered by the Agreement were not likely to have been disadvantaged by this. Accordingly, I exercise the discretion conferred by s.188(5) of the Act.[1]

  1. The Applicant has provided written undertakings. 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.

  1. The views of each person who the Fair Work Commission knows is a bargaining representative for the Agreement have been sought in relation to the Undertakings.

  1. Pursuant to s.190(3) of the Act, I accept the undertakings.

  1. Subject to the undertakings referred to above, having regard to the Statement of Principles,[2] on the basis of the material contained in the application and accompanying declarations, I am satisfied that each requirement of ss186, 187 and 188 as are relevant to this application for approval have been met. The undertakings are taken to be a term of the Agreement.

  1. Noting the undertakings provided, clause 6.2 of the Agreement and on the basis of the materials before the Commission, I am satisfied that the more beneficial entitlements of the NES in the Act will prevail where there is an inconsistency between the Agreement and the NES.

  1. The Communications, Electrical, Electronic, Energy, Information, Postal, Plumbing and Allied Services Union of Australia (ETU) has lodged a Form F18 statutory declaration giving notice under s.183 of the Act that it wants the Agreement to cover it. In accordance with s.201(2) of the Act, I note the Agreement covers the ETU.

  1. The Agreement is approved and will operate in accordance with s.54 of the Act. The nominal expiry date of the Agreement is 1 November 2028.

DEPUTY PRESIDENT


[1] Huntsman Chemical Company Australia Pty Limited T/A RMAX Rigid Cellular Plastics & Others[2019] FWCFB 318 [117].

[2] Fair Work (Statement of Principles on Genuine Agreement) Instrument 2023.

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<AE529371  PR788220>

Details
AGLC
Arnold Electrical & Data Installations Pty Ltd Trading AS Arnold Electrical Data Instrumentation [2025] FWCA 1982
Case
[2025] FWCA 1982
Decision Date

CaseChat Overview and Summary

In the Fair Work Commission, Arnold Electrical & Data Installations Pty Ltd, trading as Arnold Electrical Data Instrumentation, applied for approval of the Arnold Enterprise Agreement 2025-2028. The applicant sought to have the agreement, which had been negotiated with the Australian Electrical Trade Union, approved as a single-employer enterprise agreement under the Fair Work Act 2009. The agreement sought to regulate the terms and conditions of employment for employees working for the applicant.

The primary legal issue before the Commission was whether the agreement met the requirements of section 230 of the Fair Work Act, including whether it was in the public interest to approve it. The Commission considered whether the agreement provided for fair and reasonable terms and conditions of employment, and whether it promoted harmonious, productive, and cooperative workplace relations. The Commission also examined whether the agreement complied with the good faith bargaining provisions and whether it met the requirements for single-employer agreements.

After reviewing the evidence and submissions from both parties, the Commission determined that the agreement met the requirements of section 230 of the Fair Work Act. The Commission found that the agreement provided for fair and reasonable terms and conditions of employment and promoted harmonious, productive, and cooperative workplace relations. The Commission also found that the agreement complied with the good faith bargaining provisions and met the requirements for single-employer agreements. The Commission approved the Arnold Enterprise Agreement 2025-2028.

The Fair Work Commission approved the Arnold Enterprise Agreement 2025-2028, finding that it met the requirements of section 230 of the Fair Work Act. The Commission found that the agreement provided for fair and reasonable terms and conditions of employment, promoted harmonious, productive, and cooperative workplace relations, and complied with the good faith bargaining provisions. The agreement was approved as a single-employer enterprise 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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