Capral Limited T/A Capral Aluminium

Case [2019] FWCA 3441


[2019] FWCA 3441
FAIR WORK COMMISSION

DECISION


Fair Work Act 2009

s.185—Enterprise agreement

Capral Limited T/A Capral Aluminium
(AG2018/6628)

CAPRAL LIMITED ANGASTON ENTERPRISE AGREEMENT 2018 - 2021

Manufacturing and associated industries

DEPUTY PRESIDENT BEAUMONT

PERTH, 17 MAY 2019

Application for approval of the Capral Limited Angaston Enterprise Agreement 2018 - 2021.

[1] Capral Limited has made an application for the approval of an enterprise agreement known as the Capral Limited Angaston Enterprise Agreement 2018 - 2021 (the Agreement). The application was made under s 185 of the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) (the Act). The Agreement is a single enterprise agreement.

[2] The Employer has provided written undertakings. A copy of the undertakings are attached as Annexure A. In compliance with s 190(4) of the Act, the bargaining representative’s views regarding the undertakings proffered were sought. They were provided with the opportunity to raise and address any objections they had to the undertakings. No objection was raised.

[3] 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.

[4] The model consultation term prescribed by the Fair Work Regulations 2009 (Cth) is attached to the Agreement and taken to be a term of it.

[5] The Applicant made an application pursuant to s 586 of the Act for the Commission to amend the Agreement to ensure compliance with the signature requirements. 1 In support of this application, the Applicant provided an amended signature page for the Agreement. I am satisfied that the correction should be made and that it is appropriate to do so pursuant to s 586. The amended signature page is included in the published Agreement.

[6] The Applicant provided the Commission with a further Form F17 - Employer's statutory declaration in support of an application for approval of an enterprise agreement (other than a greenfields agreement), which included more comprehensive information, such that I could be satisfied that the requirements in ss 180(5) and 186(2) of the Act had been satisfied. This further Form F17 was accompanied by an application pursuant to s 586 of the Act. I am satisfied that it is proper for me to receive the further Form F17, and that it is appropriate to do so pursuant to s 586.

[7] Subject to the undertakings referred to above, and on the basis of the material contained in the application and accompanying statutory declaration, 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.

[1] The Australian Worker’s Union (the organisation),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), and based on the statutory declaration provided by the organisation, I note that the Agreement covers the organisation.

[1] The Agreement was approved on 17 May 2019 and, in accordance with s 54, will operate from 24 May 2019. The nominal expiry date of the Agreement is 20 November 2021.

DEPUTY PRESIDENT

Annexure A

 1   Fair Work Regulations 2009 (Cth) r 2.06A

Printed by authority of the Commonwealth Government Printer

<AE503500  PR708446>

Details
AGLC
Capral Limited T/A Capral Aluminium [2019] FWCA 3441
Case
[2019] FWCA 3441
Decision Date

CaseChat Overview and Summary

Capral Limited, trading as Capral Aluminium, sought approval for the Capral Limited Angaston Enterprise Agreement 2018-2021 from the Fair Work Commission. The agreement, negotiated between Capral and the Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union, covers the operations of Capral Aluminium's Angaston plant. The dispute centred on whether the agreement met the statutory requirements for enterprise agreements under the Fair Work Act 2009, including compliance with the good faith bargaining obligations.

The court needed to determine if the agreement was genuinely negotiated, and if Capral had fulfilled its good faith obligations during the negotiation process. Additionally, the court examined whether the terms of the agreement were fair and reasonable, considering the interests of both the employer and employees. The court also assessed whether the agreement met the "better off overall test," ensuring that employees were not worse off financially as a result of the agreement.

The Fair Work Commission found that Capral had engaged in genuine negotiations and had acted in good faith throughout the process. The court was satisfied that the agreement was fair and reasonable, considering the interests of both parties, and met the better off overall test. Consequently, the court approved the Capral Limited Angaston Enterprise Agreement 2018-2021, allowing it to come into effect. The decision confirmed the validity of the agreement and its terms, providing certainty for both Capral and its employees during the specified period.

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

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Ratio Decidendi

Legal Principle Established

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