“Automotive, Food, Metals, Engineering, Printing and Kindred Industries Union” known as the Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union (AMWU) v Electro-Motive Maintenance Operations Pty Limited

Case [2022] FWC 330


[2022] FWC 330

FAIR WORK COMMISSION

DECISION

Fair Work Act 2009

s.437—Protected action

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

Electro-Motive Maintenance Operations Pty Limited

(B2022/70)

VICE PRESIDENT CATANZARITI

SYDNEY, 16 FEBRUARY 2022

Proposed protected action ballot of employees of Electro-Motive Maintenance Operations Pty Limited

  1. This is an application by the “Automotive, Food, Metals, Engineering, Printing and Kindred Industries Union” known as the Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union (AMWU) (Applicant) made under s.437 of the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) (Act) for a protected action ballot order in relation to certain employees of Electro-Motive Maintenance Operations Pty Limited (Respondent).

  1. On 14 February 2022, the Fair Work Commission was advised that the Respondent did not oppose 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 statutory declaration of John Stewart of the Applicant declared on 3 February 2022, 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. An Order has been separately issued in PR738436.


VICE PRESIDENT

Printed by authority of the Commonwealth Government Printer

<PR738437>

Details
AGLC
“Automotive, Food, Metals, Engineering, Printing and Kindred Industries Union” known as the Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union (AMWU) v Electro-Motive Maintenance Operations Pty Limited [2022] FWC 330
Case
[2022] FWC 330
Decision Date

CaseChat Overview and Summary

The Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union (AMWU), also known as the “Automotive, Food, Metals, Engineering, Printing and Kindred Industries Union”, applied to the Fair Work Commission under section 437 of the Fair Work Act 2009 for an order permitting a ballot of certain employees of Electro-Motive Maintenance Operations Pty Limited (EMO). The AMWU sought the order to allow the employees to vote on proposed protected action, presumably related to industrial action such as a strike or stoppage. Electro-Motive Maintenance Operations Pty Limited did not oppose the application. The matter was decided by Vice President Catanzariti of the Fair Work Commission on 16 February 2022.

The legal issues before the Fair Work Commission related to whether the AMWU had met the requirements of section 437 of the Fair Work Act to apply for a ballot order. The Commission had to determine whether the AMWU had genuinely been trying to reach agreement with Electro-Motive Maintenance Operations Pty Limited and whether a notification period had elapsed. The Commission also had to consider whether the requirements of section 443(1) of the Act had been fulfilled. The AMWU provided a statutory declaration from John Stewart that outlined the steps taken in bargaining with Electro-Motive Maintenance Operations Pty Limited and that the union had been genuinely trying to reach agreement.

Vice President Catanzariti found that the AMWU had met the requirements for a ballot order under section 437 of the Fair Work Act. The Vice President was satisfied that a notification period had elapsed and that the union had genuinely been trying to reach agreement with Electro-Motive Maintenance Operations Pty Limited. The Vice President also found that the requirements of section 443(1) of the Act had been fulfilled. Consequently, the application for a ballot order was granted. The Fair Work Commission decided to determine the matter on the papers without holding a hearing.

The Fair Work Commission issued an order permitting the AMWU to conduct a ballot of the employees of Electro-Motive Maintenance Operations Pty Limited on the proposed protected action. The order was issued separately and is identified as PR738437.

Orders

Orders of the court

Full text does not contain this section.

Background

Background to the litigation

Full text does not contain this section.

Evidence

Evidence Before The Court

Full text does not contain this section.

Decision

Reasons for decision

Full text does not contain this section.

Ratio Decidendi

Legal Principle Established

Full text does not contain this section.