Coles Group Supply Chain Pty Ltd T/A Coles

[2024] FWCA 2612

[2024] FWCA 2612

FAIR WORK COMMISSION

DECISION

Fair Work Act 2009

s.185 - Application for approval of a single-enterprise agreement

Coles Group Supply Chain Pty Ltd T/A Coles

(AG2024/2238)

COLES KEWDALE DISTRIBUTION CENTER WA AGREEMENT 2024

Storage services
DEPUTY PRESIDENT BOYCE	SYDNEY, 23 JULY 2024

Application for approval of the Coles Kewdale Distribution Centre WA Agreement 2024

[1]      An application has been made for approval of an enterprise agreement to be known as the Coles Kewdale Distribution Centre WA Agreement 2024 (Agreement). The application was made pursuant to s.185 of the Fair Work Act 2009 (Act). It has been made by Coles Group Supply Chain Pty Ltd trading as Coles (Employer). The Agreement is a single enterprise agreement.

Undertakings

[2]      The Employer has provided written undertakings dated 8 July 2024. Those undertakings are attached at Annexure A to this decision and become terms of the Agreement. I am satisfied that the undertakings will not cause financial detriment to any employee covered by the Agreement (as compared to the relevant provisions of the Storage Services and Wholesale Award 2020), and that the undertakings will not result in substantial changes to the Agreement.

Coverage of employee organisation

[3]      The Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees’ Association, being a bargaining representative for the Agreement, has given notice under s.183 of the Act that it wants to be covered by the Agreement. In accordance with s.201(2) of the Act, I note that the Agreement covers this organisation.

Conclusion

[4]      Subject to the undertakings referred to above, I am satisfied that each of the requirements of ss.186, 187, 188 and 190 of the Act, as are relevant to this application for approval, have been met.[1]

[5]      I am satisfied the more beneficial entitlements of the NES will prevail where there is an inconsistency between the Agreement and the NES.

[6]      The Agreement is approved and, in accordance with s.54 of the Act, will operate from 30 July 2027. The nominal expiry date of the Agreement is 30 April 2027.

DEPUTY PRESIDENT

[1] The Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Secure Jobs, Better Pay) Act 2022 (Amending Act) made a number of changes to enterprise agreement approval processes in Part 2-4 of the Fair Work Act 2009 (FW Act), that commenced operation on 6 June 2023. Under transitional arrangements, amendments made by Part 14 of Schedule 1 to the Amending Act in relation to genuine agreement requirements for agreement approval applications apply where the notification time for the agreement was on or after 6 June 2023. The genuine agreement provisions in Part 2-4 of the FW Act, as it was just before 6 June 2023, continue to apply in relation to agreement approval applications where the notification time for the agreement was before 6 June 2023. The notification time for this Agreement was after 6 June 2023. Under transitional arrangements, amendments made by Part 16 of Schedule 1 to the Amending Act in relation to the better off overall test requirements for agreement approval applications apply where the agreement was made on or after 6 June 2023.  This Agreement was made after 6 June 2023. 

Printed by authority of the Commonwealth Government Printer

<AE525441  PR776998>