Ballarat and District Aboriginal Co-Operative Inc.

Case [2020] FWCA 5483


[2020] FWCA 5483
FAIR WORK COMMISSION

DECISION


Fair Work Act 2009

s.185—Enterprise agreement

Ballarat and District Aboriginal Co-Operative Inc.
(AG2020/2804)

NURSES (BALLARAT AND DISTRICT ABORIGINAL CO-OPERATIVE LTD.) ENTERPRISE AGREEMENT 2019

Health and welfare services

DEPUTY PRESIDENT MANSINI

MELBOURNE, 14 OCTOBER 2020

Application for approval of the Nurses (Ballarat and District Aboriginal Co-operative Ltd.) Enterprise Agreement 2019.

[1] Ballarat and District Aboriginal Co-Operative Inc. (BADAC) has applied for approval of a single enterprise agreement known as the Nurses (Ballarat and District Aboriginal Co-operative Ltd.) Enterprise Agreement 2019 (the Agreement) pursuant to s.185 of the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) (the Act).

[2] BADAC sought to correct a typographical error in the original application, by filing an amended signature page and amended declaration. In the circumstances, I am satisfied that these amendments should be allowed and that it is appropriate to do so pursuant to s.586 of the Act.

[3] The model flexibility term prescribed by the Fair Work Regulations 2009 (Cth) (the Regulations) is taken to be a term of the Agreement, pursuant to s.202(4) of the Act.

[4] Written undertakings were given in accordance with s.190 of the Act and are attached at Annexure A (Undertakings). The bargaining representatives did not oppose the Undertakings. 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. Pursuant to s.201(3) of the Act, the Undertakings are taken to be terms of the Agreement.

[5] On the basis of the material contained in the application, further information provided on request of the Commission and the Undertakings, 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.

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

[7] The Agreement was approved on 14 October 2020 and, in accordance with s.54, will operate from 21 October 2020. The nominal expiry date of the Agreement is 30 June 2022.

[8] For the purposes of publication, the signature page of the Agreement has been redacted in part, for confidentiality and as the enterprise agreement when made did not contain the redacted details. 1

DEPUTY PRESIDENT

Annexure A

 1   The Australian Workers’ Union v Oji Foodservice Packaging Solutions (Aus) Pty Ltd [2018] FWCFB 7501.

Printed by authority of the Commonwealth Government Printer

<AE509250 PR723556>

Details
AGLC
Ballarat and District Aboriginal Co-Operative Inc. [2020] FWCA 5483
Case
[2020] FWCA 5483
Decision Date

CaseChat Overview and Summary

The matter before the Fair Work Commission involved an application by the Ballarat and District Aboriginal Co-Operative Inc. for the approval of the Nurses (Ballarat and District Aboriginal Co-operative Ltd.) Enterprise Agreement 2019. The dispute centred on whether the agreement, which proposed various terms and conditions of employment for nurses, complied with the relevant industrial legislation and provided adequate protections for the employees.

The central legal issues revolved around the compliance of the enterprise agreement with the Fair Work Act 2009, specifically whether the agreement contained all the mandatory terms required by the legislation, whether it had been fairly negotiated, and whether it provided fair and reasonable terms for the employees. Additionally, the court needed to determine if the agreement met the "better off overall test" which requires that the terms of the agreement be no less favourable to employees than the applicable awards or the general industrial law.

In assessing the agreement, the Fair Work Commission examined the provisions of the Fair Work Act and the Fair Work Regulations, as well as relevant precedents. The Commission determined that the agreement did include all the mandatory terms and was fairly negotiated. The Commission found that the terms of the agreement did not disadvantage the employees in comparison to the applicable awards and general industrial law, thereby satisfying the better off overall test. As such, the Commission approved the enterprise agreement.

The Fair Work Commission ordered the approval of the Nurses (Ballarat and District Aboriginal Co-operative Ltd.) Enterprise Agreement 2019, subject to the conditions specified in the decision. This decision effectively grants the agreement legal status, allowing it to govern the employment terms between the co-operative and the nurses involved.

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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