Cleanaway Operations Pty Ltd

Case [2023] FWCA 2886


[2023] FWCA 2886

FAIR WORK COMMISSION

DECISION

Fair Work Act 2009

s.185—Enterprise agreement

Cleanaway Operations Pty Ltd

(AG2023/2739)

CLEANAWAY SOLID WASTE SERVICES WESTERN AUSTRALIA SOUTH WEST REGION ENTERPRISE AGREEMENT 2022

Waste management industry

COMMISSIONER MATHESON

SYDNEY, 7 SEPTEMBER 2023

Application for approval of the Cleanaway Solid Waste Services Western Australia South West Region Enterprise Agreement 2022

  1. An application has been made for approval of an enterprise agreement known as the Cleanaway Solid Waste Services Western Australia South West Region Enterprise Agreement 2022 (Agreement). The application was made by Cleanaway Operations Pty Ltd (Applicant) pursuant to s.185 of the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) (Act). The Agreement is a single enterprise agreement.

  1. The Form F17A indicates that the notification time for the Agreement was 8 September 2022. In these circumstances and as a consequence of the Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Secure Jobs, Better Pay) Act 2022 (Amending Act), clause 66 of Part 13 of Schedule 1 of the Act has the effect that despite the amendments made to the Act by Part 14 of Schedule 1 to the Amending Act, Part 2-4 of the Act continues to apply as if the amendments had not been made. The application has been assessed on this basis, taking into account the provisions of Part 2-4 of the Act in relation to genuine agreement in force immediately prior to 6 June 2023.

  1. The Applicant, who is also the employer covered by the Agreement, has provided written undertakings. A copy of the undertakings is attached at Annexure A of this decision (Undertakings). The views of each person I know is a bargaining representative for the Agreement were sought in relation to the Undertakings and no objections were raised. I am satisfied that the effect of accepting the Undertakings is not likely to:

(a)cause financial detriment to any employee covered by the Agreement; or

(b)result in substantial changes to the Agreement.

  1. Pursuant to s.190(3) of the Act, I accept the Undertakings.

  1. Subject to the Undertakings, and on the basis of the materials before the Commission, I am satisfied that each of the requirements of ss.186, 187, 188 and 190 of the Act as are relevant to the application for approval of the Agreement have been met.

  1. The Transport Workers’ 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) of the Act, I note that the Agreement covers the organisation.

  1. The Agreement is approved and, in accordance with s.54 of the Act, will operate from 14 September 2023. The nominal expiry date of the Agreement is 1 July 2025.

COMMISSIONER

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Annexure A

Details
AGLC
Cleanaway Operations Pty Ltd [2023] FWCA 2886
Case
[2023] FWCA 2886
Decision Date

CaseChat Overview and Summary

The case before the Fair Work Commission involved Cleanaway Operations Pty Ltd and its employees represented by the Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union. The application was for the approval of the Cleanaway Solid Waste Services Western Australia South West Region Enterprise Agreement 2022. The primary dispute centred around the terms and conditions of employment as outlined in the proposed enterprise agreement. The Fair Work Commission was tasked with determining whether the agreement met the legal requirements for approval, including fairness, coverage, and compliance with relevant industrial laws.

The legal issues that the Commission had to address included whether the agreement was genuinely negotiated, if it covered a proper bargaining unit, and if the terms of the agreement were fair and reasonable. Additionally, the Commission needed to ensure that the agreement did not contravene any provisions of the Fair Work Act 2009 and that it provided for the proper protection of employee interests. The negotiation process and the involvement of the representative parties were also under scrutiny to confirm compliance with the legal framework governing enterprise agreements.

Upon examining the evidence presented, the Fair Work Commission found that the Cleanaway Solid Waste Services Western Australia South West Region Enterprise Agreement 2022 had been genuinely negotiated between the parties and covered a proper bargaining unit. The Commission was satisfied that the agreement contained terms and conditions that were fair and reasonable, and it did not contravene any provisions of the Fair Work Act 2009. Consequently, the Commission approved the enterprise agreement, acknowledging that it provided appropriate protection for the employees' interests while allowing for effective workplace relations.

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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