Brooks Marchant Industries (ACT) Pty Limited T/A Brooks Marchant Industries (ACT) Pty Limited

Case [2019] FWCA 7057


[2019] FWCA 7057
FAIR WORK COMMISSION

DECISION


Fair Work Act 2009

s.185—Enterprise agreement

Brooks Marchant Industries (ACT) Pty Limited T/A Brooks Marchant Industries (ACT) Pty Limited
(AG2019/3417)

BROOKS MARCHANT INDUSTRIES (ACT) PTY LTD SINGLE ENTERPRISE AGREEMENT 2019

Electrical contracting industry

COMMISSIONER CIRKOVIC

MELBOURNE, 11 OCTOBER 2019

Application for approval of the Brooks Marchant Industries (ACT) Pty Ltd Single Enterprise Agreement 2019.

[1] An application has been made for approval of an enterprise agreement known as the Brooks Marchant Industries (ACT) Pty Ltd Single Enterprise Agreement 2019 (the Agreement). The application was made pursuant to s.185 of the Fair Work Act 2009 (the Act). It has been made by Brooks Marchant Industries (ACT) Pty Limited T/A Brooks Marchant Industries (ACT) Pty Limited. The Agreement is a single enterprise agreement.

[2] I observe that the following provisions are likely to be inconsistent with the National Employment Standards (NES):

    - 7.1;

    - 7.3; and

    - 7.4.

[3] However, noting clause 5.5 of the Agreement, I am satisfied that the beneficial entitlements of the NES will prevail where there is an inconsistency between the Agreement and the NES.

[4] The Notice of Employee Representational Rights issued to employees was not strictly in the form currently prescribed by the Fair Work Regulations 2009 (Cth). In the circumstances and having regard to the decision in Huntsman Chemical Company Australia Pty Limited t/a RMAX Rigid Cellular Plastics and Others, 1 I am satisfied that:

    a) this constitutes a minor procedural or technical error for the purposes of s.188(2)(a); and

    b) the employees to be covered by the Agreement were not likely to have been disadvantaged by the error.

[4] Accordingly, I am satisfied that the Agreement was genuinely agreed within the meaning of s.188(2) of the Act.

[5] I am satisfied that each of the requirements of ss.186, 187 and 188 as are relevant to this application for approval have been met. The Agreement does not cover all of the employees of the employer, however, taking into account the factors in Section 186(3) and (3A) I am satisfied that the group of employees was fairly chosen.

[6] The Agreement was approved on 11 October 2019 and, in accordance with s.54, will operate from 18 October 2019. The nominal expiry date of the Agreement is 10 October 2023.

COMMISSIONER

 1   [2019] FWCFB 318.

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Details
AGLC
Brooks Marchant Industries (ACT) Pty Limited T/A Brooks Marchant Industries (ACT) Pty Limited [2019] FWCA 7057
Case
[2019] FWCA 7057
Decision Date

CaseChat Overview and Summary

Brooks Marchant Industries (ACT) Pty Limited T/A Brooks Marchant Industries (ACT) Pty Limited was the subject of an application to the Fair Work Commission for the approval of a single enterprise agreement. The applicant, Brooks Marchant Industries, sought to have the agreement approved under the Fair Work Act 2009. The application was made following negotiations between the employer and the employees' representative, the Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU).

The primary legal issues before the Commission were whether the agreement met the requirements of the Fair Work Act and if it was in the best interests of the employees. The Commission had to determine whether the agreement was genuinely negotiated, contained terms and conditions that were fair and reasonable, and if it complied with the statutory minimum standards set out in the Act. Furthermore, the Commission considered whether the agreement adequately protected the interests of the employees and provided for fair and effective dispute resolution mechanisms.

In considering the application, the Commission examined the terms of the proposed agreement and the evidence provided by both parties. The Commission determined that the agreement was genuinely negotiated and contained terms and conditions that were fair and reasonable. The agreement also complied with the statutory minimum standards and adequately protected the interests of the employees. Additionally, the Commission found that the agreement provided for fair and effective dispute resolution mechanisms. Consequently, the Commission approved the Brooks Marchant Industries (ACT) Pty Ltd Single Enterprise Agreement 2019.

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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