Co-Operative Bulk Handling Limited T/A CBH Group

[2016] FWCA 3440

[2016] FWCA 3440

FAIR WORK COMMISSION

DECISION

Fair Work Act 2009
s.222 - Application for approval of a termination of an enterprise agreement

Co-Operative Bulk Handling Limited T/A CBH Group
(AG2016/850)

CO-OPERATIVE BULK HANDLING LTD (CAFETERIA) ENTERPRISE AGREEMENT 2013

Hospitality industry
DEPUTY PRESIDENT BINET	PERTH, 31 MAY 2016

Application for termination of the Co-Operative Bulk Handling Ltd (Cafeteria) Enterprise Agreement 2013.

[1] On 8 April 2016, Co-Operative Bulk Handling Limited T/A CBH Group (CBH Group) filed an application (Application) pursuant to section 222 of the Fair Work Act 2009 (FW Act) to terminate the Co-Operative Bulk Handling Ltd (Cafeteria) Enterprise Agreement 2013 (Agreement).

[2] The Agreement is a single enterprise agreement with a nominal expiry date of 18 April 2016.

[3] There are no employee organisations covered by the Agreement.

[4] Section 223 of the FW Act sets out the conditions which must be met for an agreement to be terminated by the Fair Work Commission (FWC) pursuant to section 222 of the Act:

“223 When the FWC must approve a termination of an enterprise agreement

If an application for the approval of a termination of an enterprise agreement is made under section 222, the FWC must approve the termination if:

(a) the FWC is satisfied that each employer covered by the agreement complied with subsection 220(2) (which deals with giving employees a reasonable opportunity to decide etc.) in relation to the agreement; and

(b) the FWC is satisfied that the termination was agreed to in accordance with whichever of subsection 221(1) or (2) applies (those subsections deal with agreement to the termination of different kinds of enterprise agreements by employee vote); and

(c) the FWC is satisfied that there are no other reasonable grounds for believing that the employees have not agreed to the termination; and

(d) the FWC considers that it is appropriate to approve the termination taking into account the views of the employee organisation or employee organisations (if any) covered by the agreement.”

[5] Ms Nadine Ross, the Employee Relations Manager of CBH Group, has provided a statutory declaration confirming that CBH Group has complied with its obligations under subsection 220(2) and that a valid vote in support of the termination of the Agreement was cast by all five of the employees who are covered by the Agreement (Ross Statutory Declaration).

[6] On 27 April 2016 CBH Group were directed to provide a copy of the Application, the Ross Statutory Declaration and the Directions to all employees whose terms of employment are regulated by the Agreement (Directions). The Directions contained an invitation for any employee whose terms of employment are regulated by the Agreement, who wished to be heard with respect to the Application, to contact the FWC by close of business on Friday 20 May 2016.

[7] On 4 May 2016 Ms Jones filed a statutory declaration confirming that a copy of the Application, Jones Statutory Declaration, Directions and the Agreement had been provided to all employees currently covered by the Agreement.

[8] No applications to be heard were received by any employees of CBH Group on or before close of business on Friday 20 May 2016.

[9] Based on the material that is before me, and in the absence of any request from an employee to heard, I am satisfied that CBH Group has complied with its obligations under subsection 220(2), that the termination was agreed to in accordance with subsection 221(1) and that there are no reasonable grounds for believing that the employees have not agreed to the termination. I therefore must approve the termination of the Agreement.

[10] The termination will come into effect on the date of this decision.

DEPUTY PRESIDENT

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