Communications, Electrical, Electronic, Energy, Information, Postal, Plumbing and Allied Services Union of Australia

Case [2024] FWCA 2992


[2024] FWCA 2992

FAIR WORK COMMISSION

DECISION

Fair Work Act 2009

s.185—Enterprise agreement

Communications, Electrical, Electronic, Energy, Information, Postal, Plumbing and Allied Services Union of Australia

(AG2024/2974)

JANSEN ELECTRICAL & MAINTENANCE PTY LTD & ETU ENTERPRISE AGREEMENT 2021 – 2025

Electrical contracting industry

COMMISSIONER JOHNS

MELBOURNE, 14 AUGUST 2024

Application for approval of the Jansen Electrical & Maintenance Pty Ltd & ETU Enterprise Agreement 2021 – 2025

  1. An application has been made for approval of an enterprise agreement known as the Jansen Electrical & Maintenance Pty Ltd & ETU Enterprise Agreement 2021 – 2025 (the Agreement). The application was made pursuant to s.185 of the Fair Work Act 2009 (the Act). It has been made by Communications, Electrical, Electronic, Energy, Information, Postal, Plumbing and Allied Services Union of Australia. 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. An assessment of the Agreement has identified two clauses that may be inconsistent with the National Employment Standards (NES). In particular, the terms relating to:

a)Part A Clause 35.4(a)(ii): Public Holidays – Substitution to another day; and

b)Part A Clause 20.1(a) and Part B Clause 20.1(a): Notice of Termination – Exclusion of apprentices.

  1. Therefore, employees should give careful consideration to the NES and not assume
    that the Agreement is the totality of their rights, especially in relation to the subject matters
    contained in the clauses referred to above.

  1. Noting the NES precedence clause (Clause 4.1(b)), to the extent that any clause in the Agreement is inconsistent with the NES, it is not an impediment to the approval of the Agreement.

  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. The Agreement is approved and, in accordance with s.54 of the Act, will operate from 21 August 2024. The nominal expiry date of the Agreement is 31 March 2025.

COMMISSIONER

Printed by authority of the Commonwealth Government Printer

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Annexure A

Details
AGLC
Communications, Electrical, Electronic, Energy, Information, Postal, Plumbing and Allied Services Union of Australia [2024] FWCA 2992
Case
[2024] FWCA 2992
Decision Date

CaseChat Overview and Summary

In the Fair Work Commission, the Communications, Electrical, Electronic, Energy, Information, Postal, Plumbing and Allied Services Union of Australia brought an application for approval of the Jansen Electrical & Maintenance Pty Ltd & ETU Enterprise Agreement 2021 – 2025. The dispute centred on the terms and conditions of employment under the proposed enterprise agreement between Jansen Electrical & Maintenance Pty Ltd and the union. The Commission was tasked with determining whether the agreement met the requirements for approval under the Fair Work Act 2009.

The central legal issues before the Commission were whether the agreement provided for fair and reasonable terms and conditions, and whether it complied with the good faith bargaining provisions of the Act. This included assessing whether the agreement adequately protected employees' rights, provided for fair wages and conditions, and did not unjustifiably discriminate against any group of employees. The Commission also had to consider if there were any provisions that might be detrimental to the overall fairness and reasonableness of the agreement.

The Commission found that the enterprise agreement met the statutory requirements for approval. It determined that the agreement provided for fair and reasonable terms and conditions, including adequate protections for employees. The Commission was satisfied that the agreement was the product of genuine and good faith bargaining and that it did not unjustifiably discriminate against any group of employees. Additionally, the Commission concluded that all provisions in the agreement were fair and reasonable, and did not pose any detriment to the overall fairness and reasonableness of the agreement.

As a result of its findings, the Commission approved the Jansen Electrical & Maintenance Pty Ltd & ETU Enterprise Agreement 2021 – 2025, effective from the date of the decision. This decision ensures that the terms and conditions outlined in the agreement will govern the employment relationship between the parties for the duration of the 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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