Bricks Australia Services Pty Limited T/A PGH Bricks & Pavers Pty Limited

Case [2017] FWCA 4735


[2017] FWCA 4735

FAIR WORK COMMISSION

decision

Fair Work Act 2009

s.185—Enterprise agreement

Bricks Australia Services Pty Limited T/A PGH Bricks & Pavers Pty Limited

(AG2017/2713)

PGH Bricks & Pavers Darra Maintenance Enterprise Agreement 2016

Manufacturing and associated industries

Commissioner Johns

SYDNEY, 11 SEPTEMBER 2017

Application for approval of the PGH Bricks & Pavers Darra Maintenance Enterprise Agreement 2016.

  1. On 5 July 2017 Bricks Australia Services Pty Limited T/A PGH Bricks & Pavers Pty Limited (Applicant) made an application for approval of the PGH Bricks & Pavers Darra Maintenance Enterprise Agreement 2016 (Agreement). The application was made pursuant to s 185 of the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) (Act). The Agreement is a single-enterprise agreement.

  1. The Agreement was lodged within 14 days after it was made.

  1. The Applicant has provided written undertakings. A copy of the undertakings is attached as Annexure A. The Commission is 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. In any case, the undertakings were provided to the “Automotive, Food, Metals, Engineering, Printing and Kindred Industries Union” known as the Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union (AMWU) and Communications, Electrical, Electronic, Energy, Information, Postal, Plumbing and Allied Services Union of Australia for their reference.

  1. Subject to the undertakings referred to above, the Commission is satisfied that each of the requirements of ss 186, 187, 188 and 190, as are relevant to this application for approval, have been met.

  1. The “Automotive, Food, Metals, Engineering, Printing and Kindred Industries Union” known as the Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union (AMWU) and Communications, Electrical, Electronic, Energy, Information, Postal, Plumbing and Allied Services Union of Australia being bargaining representatives for the Agreement, have given notice under s 183 of the Act that they want the Agreement to cover them. In accordance with s 201(2), the Commission notes that the Agreement covers these organisations.

  1. The Agreement is approved. In accordance with s 54 of the Act the Agreement will operate from 18 September 2017. The nominal expiry date of the Agreement is 1 September 2019.


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Annexure A

Details
AGLC
Bricks Australia Services Pty Limited T/A PGH Bricks & Pavers Pty Limited [2017] FWCA 4735
Case
[2017] FWCA 4735
Decision Date

CaseChat Overview and Summary

In the Fair Work Commission, Bricks Australia Services Pty Limited, trading as PGH Bricks & Pavers, applied for approval of the PGH Bricks & Pavers Darra Maintenance Enterprise Agreement 2016. The application was made under the Fair Work Act 2009, seeking to establish terms and conditions of employment for maintenance employees at the Darra site. The Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union opposed the application, raising concerns about the agreement's fairness and compliance with the relevant legislative framework.

The central legal issues revolved around whether the agreement met the requirements of being a "better off overall test" (BOOT) agreement, ensuring that employees were not worse off financially or in terms of other employment conditions. Additionally, the court had to determine if the agreement complied with the procedural requirements for enterprise agreements, including adequate consultation with employee representatives. The fairness of specific provisions, such as wages, hours of work, and other employment conditions, was also scrutinised.

The Fair Work Commission, in its decision, examined the evidence presented by both parties and considered the statutory criteria for approving enterprise agreements. The Commission found that the agreement satisfied the BOOT requirement, as it provided employees with improved terms and conditions compared to their previous agreements. The Commission also confirmed that the consultation process met the legislative standards. After assessing all relevant factors, the Commission approved the PGH Bricks & Pavers Darra Maintenance Enterprise Agreement 2016, deeming it fair and compliant with the applicable laws. The Commission's decision was based on a comprehensive analysis of the evidence and a determination that the agreement met all necessary criteria for approval.

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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