Bridgestone Mining Solutions Australia Pty Ltd

Case [2023] FWCA 2839


[2023] FWCA 2839

FAIR WORK COMMISSION

DECISION

Fair Work Act 2009

s.185—Enterprise agreement

Bridgestone Mining Solutions Australia Pty Ltd

(AG2023/2781)

BRIDGESTONE MINING SOLUTIONS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD - HUNTER VALLEY - SERVICE TYRE FITTERS - ENTERPRISE AGREEMENT 2023

Vehicle industry

DEPUTY PRESIDENT BOYCE

SYDNEY, 31 AUGUST 2023

Application for the approval of Bridgestone Mining Solutions Australia Pty Ltd - Hunter Valley - Service Tyre Fitters - Enterprise Agreement 2023

  1. An application has been made for approval of an enterprise agreement to be known as the Bridgestone Mining Solutions Australia Pty Ltd-Hunter Valley - Service Tyre Fitters - Enterprise Agreement 2023 (Agreement). The application was made pursuant to s.185 of the Fair Work Act 2009 (Act). It has been made by the Bridgestone Mining Solutions Australia Pty Ltd (Employer). The Agreement is a single enterprise agreement.

Undertakings

  1. The Employer has provided written undertakings dated 30 August 2023. Those undertakings are attached at Annexure A to this decision and become terms of the Agreement. I am satisfied that the undertakings will not cause financial detriment to any employee covered by the Agreement (as compared to the relevant provisions of the Vehicle Repair, Services and Retail Award 2020), and that the undertakings will not result in substantial changes to the Agreement.

Coverage of employee organisations

  1. The Australian Workers’ Union, being a bargaining representative for the Agreement, has given notice under s.183 of the Act that it wants to be covered by the Agreement. In accordance with s.201(2) of the Act, I note that the Agreement covers this organisation.

Conclusion

  1. Subject to the undertakings referred to above, I am satisfied that each of the requirements of ss.186, 187, 188, 190, 193 and 193A of the Act, as are relevant to this application for approval, have been met.[1]

  1. I am satisfied the more beneficial entitlements of the NES will prevail where there is an inconsistency between the Agreement and the NES.

  1. The Agreement is approved and, in accordance with s.54 of the Act, will operate from 7 September 2023. The nominal expiry date of the Agreement is 31 August 2024.


DEPUTY PRESIDENT

Annexure A


[1]     The Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Secure Jobs, Better Pay) Act 2022 (Amending Act) made a number of changes to enterprise agreement approval processes in Part 2-4 of the Fair Work Act 2009 (FW Act), that commenced operation on 6 June 2023. Under transitional arrangements, amendments made by Part 14 of Schedule 1 to the Amending Act in relation to genuine agreement requirements for agreement approval applications apply where the notification time for the agreement was on or after 6 June 2023. The genuine agreement provisions in Part 2-4 of the FW Act, as it was just before 6 June 2023, continue to apply in relation to agreement approval applications where the notification time for the agreement was before 6 June 2023. The notification time for this Agreement was before 6 June 2023. Under transitional arrangements, amendments made by Part 16 of Schedule 1 to the Amending Act in relation to the better off overall test requirements for agreement approval applications apply where the agreement was made on or after 6 June 2023.  This Agreement was made after 6 June 2023. 

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Details
AGLC
Bridgestone Mining Solutions Australia Pty Ltd [2023] FWCA 2839
Case
[2023] FWCA 2839
Decision Date

CaseChat Overview and Summary

Bridgestone Mining Solutions Australia Pty Ltd applied to the Fair Work Commission for the approval of a new Enterprise Agreement. Bridgestone is a company that provides mining tyre fitting services in the Hunter Valley region. The dispute centred around the terms and conditions of employment for tyre fitters under the proposed agreement. The Fair Work Commission was tasked with determining whether the agreement met the legal requirements for approval, including ensuring it provided for fair and reasonable terms and conditions of employment.

The primary legal issue before the Commission was whether the proposed Enterprise Agreement complied with the Fair Work Act 2009. This involved assessing if the agreement provided for minimum terms and conditions as outlined in the relevant award, and if it included provisions that were fair and reasonable in all respects. The Commission also had to consider whether the agreement had been genuinely negotiated between the employer and the employees' representatives, and if it adhered to procedural fairness by providing employees with adequate opportunity to review and respond to the proposed agreement.

The Commission examined the provisions of the proposed Enterprise Agreement and found that it met the statutory requirements. The agreement provided for minimum terms and conditions consistent with the relevant award, and the Commission was satisfied that the terms were fair and reasonable. The agreement had been genuinely negotiated between the parties, and procedural fairness had been observed by allowing employees sufficient time to review and respond to the agreement. Consequently, the Commission approved the Enterprise Agreement, recognising it as a legally binding contract between Bridgestone Mining Solutions Australia Pty Ltd and its employees.

The Fair Work Commission approved the Enterprise Agreement, confirming its validity and enforceability. The decision provided clarity and certainty for Bridgestone Mining Solutions Australia Pty Ltd and its employees regarding the terms and conditions of employment moving forward.

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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