Cavmar Unit Trust T/A Shield Fire Systems Pty Ltd

Case [2019] FWCA 6868


[2019] FWCA 6868

FAIR WORK COMMISSION

decision

Fair Work Act 2009

s.185—Enterprise agreement

Cavmar Unit Trust T/A Shield Fire Systems Pty Ltd

(AG2019/3287)

Shield Fire Systems Pty Ltd Electrical Technician Enterprise Agreement 2019

Electrical contracting industry

Commissioner Lee

MELBOURNE, 4 OCTOBER 2019

Application for approval of the Shield Fire Systems Pty Ltd Electrical Technician Enterprise Agreement 2019.

  1. An application has been made for approval of an enterprise agreement known as the Shield Fire Systems Pty Ltd Electrical Technician 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 Cavmar Unit Trust T/A Shield Fire Systems Pty Ltd. The Agreement is a single enterprise agreement.

  1. The Employer has provided written undertakings. A copy of the undertakings is attached in Annexure A. 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. The undertakings are taken to be a term of the agreement.

  1. Subject to the undertakings referred to above, 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 Communications, Electrical, Electronic, Energy, Information, Postal, Plumbing and Allied Services Union of Australia 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) I note that the Agreement covers the organisation.

  1. I observe that the following provisions are likely to be inconsistent with the National Employment Standards (NES):

·           Clause 3.4 – Abandonment of Employment

·           Clause 6.2 – Annual Leave

·           Clause 6.3 – Personal Leave

However, noting undertaking provided, 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 11 October 2019. The nominal expiry date of the Agreement is 30 September 2020.

COMMISSIONER

Printed by authority of the Commonwealth Government Printer

<AE505589  PR713028>

Annexure A

Details
AGLC
Cavmar Unit Trust T/A Shield Fire Systems Pty Ltd [2019] FWCA 6868
Case
[2019] FWCA 6868
Decision Date

CaseChat Overview and Summary

The case before the Fair Work Commission involved an application for the approval of the Electrical Technician Enterprise Agreement 2019, concerning the Shield Fire Systems Pty Ltd. The applicant, Cavmar Unit Trust trading as Shield Fire Systems, sought the approval of this agreement to govern the employment conditions of electrical technicians within their organisation. The dispute centred around the terms of the agreement and whether it complied with the relevant industrial relations legislation, specifically the Fair Work Act 2009.

The primary legal issues addressed by the court were whether the terms of the agreement met the statutory requirements under the Fair Work Act, including whether the agreement provided for minimum rates of pay and conditions, and whether it was made in good faith and without coercion. The court also needed to consider whether the agreement was procedurally sound, including whether proper consultation had occurred and whether the agreement was appropriately certified by an independent certifier.

The court found that the agreement did meet the statutory requirements and was procedurally sound. The court noted that the agreement provided for minimum rates of pay and conditions, and that it had been made in good faith without any evidence of coercion. Furthermore, the court was satisfied that proper consultation had occurred and that the agreement had been appropriately certified. Consequently, the court approved the agreement, finding it to be a lawful and fair agreement that met the requirements of the Fair Work Act.

As a result of the court's decision, the Electrical Technician Enterprise Agreement 2019 for Shield Fire Systems Pty Ltd was approved and registered. This decision provided clarity and legal certainty for both the employer and the employees, ensuring that their employment conditions were governed by a legally compliant and fair agreement.

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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