Australian Municipal, Administrative, Clerical and Services Union v ZNX Pty Ltd

Case [2025] FWC 1411


[2025] FWC 1411

FAIR WORK COMMISSION

DECISION

Fair Work Act 2009

s.437 - Application for a protected action ballot order

Australian Municipal, Administrative, Clerical and Services Union
v

ZNX Pty Ltd

(B2025/809)

DEPUTY PRESIDENT HAMPTON

ADELAIDE, 23 MAY 2025

Proposed protected action ballot of employees of ZNX Pty Ltd

  1. This is an application by the Australian Municipal, Administrative, Clerical and Services Union (ASU or Applicant) made under s.437 of the Fair Work Act 2009 (Act) for a protected action ballot order in relation to certain employees of ZNX Pty Ltd (ZNX or Employer).

  1. On 22 May 2025, the Commission was advised that the parties had reached a consent position in relation to the application following the removal of one of the proposed ballot questions and the correction of the employer entity name.

  1. In the circumstances, I have decided to grant leave to amend the application to reflect the consent position and otherwise determined the matter on the papers without holding a hearing.

  1. On the basis of the material before me, including the declaration of Jonathan Smallbone, ASU Organiser, setting out the steps taken by the ASU in bargaining with the Employer and that it has been, and is, genuinely trying to reach agreement with ZNX, I am satisfied that there is a notification time in relation to the proposed agreement and that all of  the requirements in s.443(1) of the Act have been met.

  1. The ballot is to be conducted by the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC).

  1. For the purposes of s.443(3)(c) of the Act, the Commission has determined that the date by which voting is to close is 7 July 2025.[1] This also establishes the ballot period for the purpose of s.448A(2) of the Act.

  1. An Order has been separately issued in PR787555.

  1. This matter will be assigned to another Member of the Commission to conduct the s.448A compulsory conciliation conference. That Member will issue an Order requiring the attendance of all bargaining representatives in the proposed enterprise agreement at the conference. It is likely that Directions will also be issued to ensure that the parties attend the conference ready to conduct meaningful negotiations.


DEPUTY PRESIDENT


[1] This is, in effect, 30 working days from the making of the Order, which is the minimum period required by the AEC.

Printed by authority of the Commonwealth Government Printer

<PR787556>

Details
AGLC
Australian Municipal, Administrative, Clerical and Services Union v ZNX Pty Ltd [2025] FWC 1411
Case
[2025] FWC 1411
Decision Date

CaseChat Overview and Summary

The Australian Municipal, Administrative, Clerical and Services Union (ASU) applied to the Fair Work Commission for a protected action ballot order concerning certain employees of ZNX Pty Ltd. The application was made under section 437 of the Fair Work Act 2009. The application followed a period of bargaining between the ASU and ZNX, with the ASU asserting that it had been genuinely attempting to reach an agreement. The application was amended to reflect a consent position reached by the parties, which involved removing one of the proposed ballot questions and correcting the name of the employer entity.

The central legal issue was whether the conditions for a protected action ballot, as outlined in section 443 of the Act, were satisfied. This included verifying that the ASU had genuinely been attempting to reach an agreement and ensuring that all procedural requirements were met. The Deputy President examined the declaration provided by Jonathan Smallbone, an ASU Organiser, which detailed the steps taken in the bargaining process and the union's efforts to reach an agreement with ZNX.

The Deputy President concluded that the ASU had genuinely been attempting to reach an agreement and that all procedural requirements under section 443(1) of the Act were fulfilled. Consequently, the application for a protected action ballot order was granted. The voting period was set to close on 7 July 2025, ensuring it met the minimum requirement set by the Australian Electoral Commission. The matter will proceed with a compulsory conciliation conference to be conducted by another member of the Commission, aiming to facilitate meaningful negotiations between the parties.

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

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Ratio Decidendi

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