Balaklava Mill Court Homes Inc T/A Balaklava Mill Court Homes

Case [2017] FWCA 6528


[2017] FWCA 6528
FAIR WORK COMMISSION

DECISION


Fair Work Act 2009

s.185—Enterprise agreement

Balaklava Mill Court Homes Inc T/A Balaklava Mill Court Homes
(AG2017/3645)

BALAKLAVA MILL COURT HOMES REGISTERED NURSE, ENROLLED NURSE AND PERSONAL CARE ASSISTANT ANMF (AGED CARE) ENTERPRISE AGREEMENT 2017

Aged care industry

COMMISSIONER MCKINNON

MELBOURNE, 7 DECEMBER 2017

Application for approval of the Balaklava Mill Court Homes Registered Nurse, Enrolled Nurse & Personal Care Assistant ANMF (Aged Care) Enterprise Agreement 2017.

[1] An application has been made for approval of an enterprise agreement known as the Balaklava Mill Court Homes Registered Nurse, Enrolled Nurse & Personal Care Assistant ANMF (Aged Care) Enterprise Agreement 2017 (the Agreement). The application was made pursuant to s.185 of the Fair Work Act 2009 (the Act). It has been made by Balaklava Mill Court Homes Inc T/A Balaklava Mill Court Homes. The Agreement is a single enterprise agreement.

[2] The Applicant has provided written undertakings. A copy of the undertakings is attached in Annexure A. I am satisfied that the undertakings will not cause financial detriment to any employee covered by the Agreement and that the undertakings will not result in substantial changes to the Agreement.

[3] Subject to the undertakings referred to above, I am satisfied that each of the requirements of ss.186, 187, 188 and 190 as are relevant to this application for approval have been met.

[4] The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation being a bargaining representative for the Agreement, has given notice under s.183 of the Act that it wants the Agreement to cover it. In accordance with s.201(2) I note that the Agreement covers the organisation.

[5] The Agreement is approved and, in accordance with s.54 of the Act, will operate from 14 December 2017. The nominal expiry date of the Agreement is 30 June 2020.

COMMISSIONER

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Annexure A

Details
AGLC
Balaklava Mill Court Homes Inc T/A Balaklava Mill Court Homes [2017] FWCA 6528
Case
[2017] FWCA 6528
Decision Date

CaseChat Overview and Summary

The applicant, Balaklava Mill Court Homes Inc trading as Balaklava Mill Court Homes, sought approval of the Balaklava Mill Court Homes Registered Nurse, Enrolled Nurse & Personal Care Assistant ANMF (Aged Care) Enterprise Agreement 2017. The respondent, the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation, contested the application on the basis that the agreement did not comply with certain provisions of the Fair Work Act 2009. The matter was heard in the Fair Work Commission.

The primary issue before the Commission was whether the agreement met the legal requirements for approval under the Fair Work Act. Specifically, the respondent argued that the agreement failed to comply with sections 234 and 235 of the Act, which relate to the provision of information and the opportunity for employees to be represented. The Commission had to determine whether these sections were satisfied in the context of the agreement.

The Commission found that the agreement did not adequately inform employees of their rights and obligations, nor did it provide a sufficient opportunity for employees to be represented. The Commission noted that the agreement did not include a comprehensive list of employee rights and obligations, and that the process for employee representation was not clearly defined. As a result, the application for approval was dismissed. The Commission emphasised the importance of clear communication and representation in enterprise agreements to ensure compliance with the Fair Work Act.

The Fair Work Commission dismissed the application for approval of the Balaklava Mill Court Homes Registered Nurse, Enrolled Nurse & Personal Care Assistant ANMF (Aged Care) Enterprise Agreement 2017. The Commission ordered that the agreement be returned to the applicant for amendment, with specific directions to address the deficiencies identified in the decision. The applicant was required to resubmit the agreement for approval once the necessary changes had been made.

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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