“Automotive, Food, Metals, Engineering, Printing and Kindred Industries Union” known as the Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union (AMWU) v MSF Sugar Pty Ltd

Case [2022] FWC 845


[2022] FWC 845

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

MSF Sugar Pty Ltd

(B2022/293)

VICE PRESIDENT CATANZARITI

BRISBANE, 12 APRIL 2022

Proposed protected action ballot of employees of MSF Sugar 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) (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 MSF Sugar Pty Ltd (Respondent).

  1. On 11 April 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 Peter John Dalton of the Applicant declared on 7 April 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 PR740305.


VICE PRESIDENT

Printed by authority of the Commonwealth Government Printer

<PR740306>

Details
AGLC
“Automotive, Food, Metals, Engineering, Printing and Kindred Industries Union” known as the Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union (AMWU) v MSF Sugar Pty Ltd [2022] FWC 845
Case
[2022] FWC 845
Decision Date

CaseChat Overview and Summary

The Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union (AMWU) has applied to the Fair Work Commission (FWC) for an order allowing them to conduct a protected action ballot for employees of MSF Sugar Pty Ltd. The AMWU is seeking to organise a protected action ballot to potentially facilitate industrial action. MSF Sugar Pty Ltd did not oppose the application. The matter was determined on the papers without a hearing.

The legal issues before the court involved whether the AMWU had fulfilled the requirements of section 437 of the Fair Work Act 2009. Specifically, the AMWU needed to demonstrate that there was a notification time in relation to the proposed agreement and that it had been genuinely trying to reach an agreement with MSF Sugar Pty Ltd. The AMWU provided a statutory declaration from Peter John Dalton, which outlined the bargaining steps taken with MSF Sugar Pty Ltd and that the union had been genuinely attempting to reach an agreement.

The FWC found that the AMWU had satisfied the requirements under section 437 of the Act. The FWC was satisfied that there was a notification time in relation to the proposed agreement and that the union had been genuinely trying to reach agreement with MSF Sugar Pty Ltd. As a result, the FWC determined to grant the AMWU's application for a protected action ballot order.

The FWC issued an order allowing the AMWU to conduct a protected action ballot for the employees of MSF Sugar Pty Ltd. The order was issued separately in PR740305. The AMWU can now proceed with the ballot, subject to the terms and conditions set out in the order.

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

Reasons for decision

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Ratio Decidendi

Legal Principle Established

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