Automotive, Food, Metals, Engineering, Printing and Kindred Industries Union (AMWU) v Otis Elevator Company Pty Ltd

Case [2023] FWC 821


[2023] FWC 821

FAIR WORK COMMISSION

DECISION

Fair Work Act 2009

s.437—Protected action

Automotive, Food, Metals, Engineering, Printing and Kindred Industries Union (AMWU)
v

Otis Elevator Company Pty Ltd

(B2023/308)

DEPUTY PRESIDENT CLANCY

MELBOURNE, 4 APRIL 2023

Proposed protected action ballot of employees of Otis Elevator Company Pty Ltd

  1. This is an application by the Automotive, Food, Metals, Engineering, Printing and Kindred Industries Union (Applicant) made under s.437 of the Fair Work Act 2009 (Act) for a protected action ballot order in relation to certain employees of Otis Elevator Company Pty Ltd (the Respondent).

  1. On 4 April 2023, my Associate was advised that the Respondent did not object to the application.

  1. In the circumstances, I have decided to determine the matter on the papers without holding a hearing.

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

  1. The Applicant sought that a person other than the Australian Electoral Commission be the ballot agent for the protected action ballot. This course was not opposed by the Respondent. The person proposed in the application as the protected action ballot agent is Vero Engagement & Voting Solutions Pty Ltd (Vero). I am satisfied that Vero is a fit and proper person to conduct the ballot. I am also satisfied that Vero is capable of ensuring the secrecy and security of the votes and of conducting the ballot expeditiously. Vero has agreed to be the protected action ballot agent and is bound to comply with the Privacy Act 1998 with respect to the handling of the information relating to the protected action ballot.

  1. Therefore I appoint Vero as the protected action ballot agent.

  1. An order has been separately issued in PR760885.

DEPUTY PRESIDENT

Printed by authority of the Commonwealth Government Printer

<PR760884>

Details
AGLC
Automotive, Food, Metals, Engineering, Printing and Kindred Industries Union (AMWU) v Otis Elevator Company Pty Ltd [2023] FWC 821
Case
[2023] FWC 821
Decision Date

CaseChat Overview and Summary

The Automotive, Food, Metals, Engineering, Printing and Kindred Industries Union (AMWU) lodged an application with the Fair Work Commission (FWC) under section 437 of the Fair Work Act 2009, seeking a protected action ballot order in relation to certain employees of Otis Elevator Company Pty Ltd. The AMWU claimed that it had been genuinely trying to reach an agreement with Otis Elevator, but was unable to do so, and therefore required to conduct a protected action ballot. Otis Elevator did not object to the application and the matter proceeded on the papers before the Deputy President, Clancy, who determined that the requirements of the Act had been met and that Vero Engagement & Voting Solutions Pty Ltd was a suitable ballot agent.

The primary legal issue before the Deputy President was whether the AMWU had satisfied the requirements of the Fair Work Act 2009 to conduct a protected action ballot. The AMWU needed to demonstrate that it had been genuinely trying to reach an agreement with Otis Elevator, that there was a notification time in relation to the proposed agreement, and that the requirements of section 443(1) of the Act had been met. The Deputy President was satisfied that the AMWU had met these requirements and that Vero was a suitable ballot agent.

The Deputy President considered the declaration of Mr Andrew Bonello of the AMWU, which outlined the steps taken by the union in bargaining with Otis Elevator and its efforts to reach an agreement. The Deputy President was satisfied that the AMWU had been genuinely trying to reach an agreement and that there was a notification time in relation to the proposed agreement. The Deputy President also considered Vero's experience and capability in conducting ballots and was satisfied that Vero was a fit and proper person to conduct the ballot. Vero had also agreed to be bound by the Privacy Act 1998 in relation to the handling of information relating to the protected action ballot.

The Deputy President appointed Vero as the protected action ballot agent and issued an order in PR760885. The AMWU was granted its application for a protected action ballot order in relation to certain employees of Otis Elevator Company Pty Ltd, and Vero was appointed as the ballot agent.

Orders

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Background

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Evidence

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Decision

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Ratio Decidendi

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