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

Case [2022] FWC 765


[2022] FWC 765

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

Schindler Lifts Australia Pty Ltd

(B2022/275)

DEPUTY PRESIDENT CLANCY

MELBOURNE, 6 APRIL 2022

Proposed protected action ballot of employees of Schindler Lifts Australia 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 (Act) for a protected action ballot order in relation to certain employees of Schindler Lifts Australia Pty Ltd (the Respondent).

  1. On 6 April 2022, 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. An order has been separately issued in PR740062.

DEPUTY PRESIDENT

Printed by authority of the Commonwealth Government Printer

<PR740061>

Details
AGLC
“Automotive, Food, Metals, Engineering, Printing and Kindred Industries Union” known as the Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union (AMWU) v Schindler Lifts Australia Pty Ltd [2022] FWC 765
Case
[2022] FWC 765
Decision Date

CaseChat Overview and Summary

The Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union (AMWU), acting 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 a protected action ballot order in relation to certain employees of Schindler Lifts Australia Pty Ltd. The AMWU sought to organise a ballot for proposed protected action, likely related to industrial action such as strikes or stoppages, due to ongoing bargaining difficulties with Schindler Lifts Australia Pty Ltd. The case was heard by Deputy President Clancy in Melbourne on 6 April 2022.

The legal issues before the court centred on whether the AMWU had satisfied the conditions set out in section 443(1) of the Fair Work Act for holding a protected action ballot. This includes demonstrating that there had been a notification time in relation to a proposed agreement and proving that the union had genuinely tried to reach an agreement with the employer. The court had to assess the evidence provided by the AMWU, including the declaration of Mr Andrew Bonello, to determine if these conditions were met.

Deputy President Clancy decided the matter based on the evidence presented in the documents, as the employer did not object to the application. The court found that the AMWU had provided sufficient evidence to satisfy the conditions for a protected action ballot. The declaration of Mr Andrew Bonello detailed the steps taken by the union in bargaining with the employer and affirmed that the union had genuinely tried to reach an agreement. Therefore, the Deputy President granted the AMWU's application for a protected action ballot order.

The court issued a separate order in PR740062, formalising the decision to allow the AMWU to proceed with the protected action ballot for the employees of Schindler Lifts Australia Pty Ltd.

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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