"Automotive, Food, Metals, Engineering, Printing and Kindred Industries Union" known as the Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union (AMWU) v Adecco Industrial Pty Ltd

Case [2024] FWC 1961


[2024] FWC 1961

FAIR WORK COMMISSION

DECISION

Fair Work Act 2009

s.437 - Application for a protected action ballot order

"Automotive, Food, Metals, Engineering, Printing and Kindred Industries Union" known as the Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union (AMWU)
v

Adecco Industrial Pty Ltd

(B2024/941)

DEPUTY PRESIDENT HAMPTON

ADELAIDE, 25 JULY 2024

Proposed protected action ballot of employees of Adecco Industrial Pty Ltd

  1. This is an application by the “Automotive, Food, Metals, Engineering, Printing and Kindred Industries Union” known as the Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union (AMWU 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 Adecco Industrial Pty Ltd (Adecco or Employer).

  1. On 24 July 2024, the Commission was advised that the Employer 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 Andrew Bonello, Industrial Officer, setting out the steps taken by the AMWU in bargaining with the Employer and that it has been, and is, genuinely trying to reach agreement with Adecco, 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 5 September 2024.[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 PR777490.

  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, as required by the AEC.

Printed by authority of the Commonwealth Government Printer

< PR777491>

Details
AGLC
"Automotive, Food, Metals, Engineering, Printing and Kindred Industries Union" known as the Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union (AMWU) v Adecco Industrial Pty Ltd [2024] FWC 1961
Case
[2024] FWC 1961
Decision Date

CaseChat Overview and Summary

The Automotive, Food, Metals, Engineering, Printing and Kindred Industries Union, also known as the Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union (AMWU), applied to the Fair Work Commission under section 437 of the Fair Work Act 2009 for a protected action ballot order in relation to certain employees of Adecco Industrial Pty Ltd. The application was made in response to the union's attempt to reach an agreement with Adecco. The employer, Adecco Industrial Pty Ltd, did not object to the application, allowing the matter to be determined on the papers without a hearing.

The legal issues before the Deputy President Hampton involved whether the AMWU had genuinely attempted to reach an agreement with Adecco and if all the requirements under section 443(1) of the Fair Work Act had been fulfilled. The application required the Fair Work Commission to consider the declaration by Andrew Bonello, an Industrial Officer, which outlined the union's bargaining efforts and its genuine attempts to reach an agreement. Additionally, the Commission needed to determine the closing date for the ballot, ensuring compliance with the Australian Electoral Commission's regulations.

Upon reviewing the material, Deputy President Hampton concluded that the AMWU had genuinely tried to reach an agreement with Adecco and that all statutory requirements had been met. Consequently, the Fair Work Commission granted the application and ordered that the ballot be conducted by the Australian Electoral Commission. The ballot period was set to close on 5 September 2024, which is effectively 30 working days from the issuance of the order. This decision also established the timeline for the compulsory conciliation conference, to be conducted by another member of the Commission, aimed at ensuring 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

Legal Principle Established

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