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

[2013] FWC 6187

[2013] FWC 6187

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
The Age Company Pty Ltd; Fairfax Media Limited
(B2013/209)

COMMISSIONER ROE MELBOURNE, 27 AUGUST 2013

Proposed protected action ballot by employees of The Age Company Pty Ltd and Fairfax Media Limited.

[1] This is an application for a protected action ballot order by members of the “Automotive, Food, Metals, Engineering, Printing and Kindred Industries Union” known as the Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union (AMWU) employed by The Age Company Pty Ltd and Fairfax Media Limited (the employer). The application is made pursuant to s.437 of the Fair Work Act 2009 (the Act).

[2] The applicant seeks to ballot employees of the employer who are members of the AMWU who would be covered by the proposed enterprise agreement, except an employee who is bound by an individual agreement-based transitional instrument that has not passed its nominal expiry date on the day the ballot order is made, unless such an employee has made a conditional termination of that instrument.

[3] In considering this matter I must apply s.443 of the Act which provides:

“443 When the FWC must make a protected action ballot order

(1) The FWC must make a protected action ballot order in relation to a proposed enterprise agreement if:

(a) an application has been made under section 437; and

(b) the FWC is satisfied that each applicant has been, and is, genuinely trying to reach an agreement with the employer of the employees who are to be balloted.

(2) The FWC must not make a protected action ballot order in relation to a proposed enterprise agreement except in the circumstances referred to in subsection (1).

(3) A protected action ballot order must specify the following:

(a) the name of each applicant for the order;

(b) the group or groups of employees who are to be balloted;

(c) the date by which voting in the protected action ballot closes;

(d) the question or questions to be put to the employees who are to be balloted, including the nature of the proposed industrial action.

(3A) For the purposes of paragraph (3)(c), the FWC must specify a date that will enable the protected action ballot to be conducted as expeditiously as practicable.

(4) If the FWC decides that a person other than the Australian Electoral Commission is to be the protected action ballot agent for the protected action ballot, the protected action ballot order must also specify:

(a) the person that the FWC decides, under subsection 444(1), is to be the protected action ballot agent; and

(b) the person (if any) that the FWC decides, under subsection 444(3), is to be the independent advisor for the ballot.

(5) If the FWC is satisfied, in relation to the proposed industrial action that is the subject of the protected action ballot, that there are exceptional circumstances justifying the period of written notice referred to in paragraph 414(2)(a) being longer than 3 working days, the protected action ballot order may specify a longer period of up to 7 working days.

Note: Under subsection 414(1), before a person engages in employee claim action for a proposed enterprise agreement, a bargaining representative of an employee who will be covered by the agreement must give written notice of the action to the employer of the employee.”

[4] To begin, I am satisfied that the Application has been made in accordance with Section 437 of the Act. I am satisfied that the Application was not made earlier than 30 days prior to the nominal expiry date of the current agreement, The Age Clerical Employees Agreement 2010-2013, as required by Section 438 of the Act. I am satisfied that the employer received the Application as required by Section 440 of the Act. My Associate received an email from Ms Motley on behalf of the employer advising that the company does not object to the application and will not be attending the Hearing.

[5] The next matter to which attention must be given is whether or not the applicant has been, and is, genuinely trying to reach an agreement with the employer on behalf of the employees who are to be balloted. I am satisfied after hearing submissions from Mr Terzic on behalf of the AMWU that this is the case.

[6] I am satisfied that the proposed order meets the requirements of Section 443 of the Act. The questions adequately specify the nature of the proposed industrial action and meet the requirements of Section 443(3)(d). The draft order therefore adequately describes the group of employees to be balloted as required by Section 443(3)(b). The AEC will be the ballot agent.

[7] Having decided that s.443(1)(a) and (b) have been complied with, I must make a protected action ballot order, as sought by the AMWU.

COMMISSIONER

Appearances:

Mr B Terzic appeared for the AMWU.

No appearance for the Employer.

Hearing details:

2013

Melbourne

August 27

Printed by authority of the Commonwealth Government Printer

<Price code A, PR540813>