Australian Steel Mill Services Pty Limited T/A Australian Steel Mill Services Pty Limited

[2023] FWCA 2437

[2023] FWCA 2437

FAIR WORK COMMISSION

DECISION

Fair Work Act 2009

s.185—Enterprise agreement

Australian Steel Mill Services Pty Limited T/A Australian Steel Mill Services Pty Limited

(AG2023/2412)

THE AUSTRALIAN STEEL MILL SERVICES PTY LIMITED ENTERPRISE AGREEMENT 2023

Manufacturing and associated industries
DEPUTY PRESIDENT BOYCE	SYDNEY, 4 AUGUST 2023

Application for approval of the Australian Steel Mill Services Pty Limited Enterprise Agreement 2023

1. An application has been made for approval of an enterprise agreement to be known as the Australian Steel Mill Services Pty Limited Enterprise Agreement 2023 (Agreement). The application was made pursuant to s.185 of the Fair Work Act 2009 (Act). It has been made by Australian Steel Mill Services Pty Limited T/A Australian Steel Mill Services Pty Limited (Employer). The Agreement is a single enterprise agreement.

Application brought out of time

1. The Agreement was lodged with the Commission on 18 July 2023.  Section 185(3) of the Act provides that an enterprise agreement must be lodged with the Commission for approval within 14 days of it being made (i.e. approved by relevant employees), or within such time as the Commission allows if it considers it fair to extend the time period for lodgement.  Given the Agreement was made on 22 June 2023, it ought to have been lodged by 6 July 2023. 

1. The Employer has made submissions and filed evidence that details the circumstances as to why the Agreement was lodged outside of the 14 day period.  In the circumstances of this Application, and having regard to the circumstances outlined by the Employer, I do consider it fair to extend the period in which this Application (for approval of an enterprise agreement) was lodged with the Commission to 18 July 2023. I do so in reliance of the power afforded to me by s.185(3)(b) of the Act, and having had regard to all of the circumstances (namely, that the delay is of a short duration, and has not caused prejudice to any employees seeking to be covered by the Agreement).

Undertakings

1. The Employer has provided written undertakings dated 2 August 2023. Those undertakings are attached at Annexure A to this decision and become terms of the Agreement. I am satisfied that the undertakings will not cause financial detriment to any employee covered by the Agreement (as compared to the relevant provisions of the Manufacturing and Associated Industries and Occupations Award 2020), and that the undertakings will not result in substantial changes to the Agreement.

Coverage of employee organisation(s)

1. The Australian Workers’ Union, being a bargaining representative for the Agreement, has given notice under s.183 of the Act that it wants to be covered by the Agreement. In accordance with s.201(2) of the Act, I note that the Agreement covers this organisation.

Conclusion

1. Subject to the undertakings referred to above, I am satisfied that each of the requirements of ss.186, 187, 188, 190, 193 and 193A of the Act, as are relevant to this application for approval, have been met.[1]

1. 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 11 August 2023. The nominal expiry date of the Agreement is 1 April 2026.

DEPUTY PRESIDENT

Annexure A

[1]     The Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Secure Jobs, Better Pay) Act 2022 (Amending Act) made a number of changes to enterprise agreement approval processes in Part 2-4 of the Fair Work Act 2009 (FW Act), that commenced operation on 6 June 2023. Under transitional arrangements, amendments made by Part 14 of Schedule 1 to the Amending Act in relation to genuine agreement requirements for agreement approval applications apply where the notification time for the agreement was on or after 6 June 2023. The genuine agreement provisions in Part 2-4 of the FW Act, as it was just before 6 June 2023, continue to apply in relation to agreement approval applications where the notification time for the agreement was before 6 June 2023. The notification time for this Agreement was before 6 June 2023. Under transitional arrangements, amendments made by Part 16 of Schedule 1 to the Amending Act in relation to the better off overall test requirements for agreement approval applications apply where the agreement was made on or after 6 June 2023.  This Agreement was made after 6 June 2023. 

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