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

Case

[2024] FWCA 700

23 FEBRUARY 2024


[2024] FWCA 700

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

(AG2024/175)

COOKE & DOWSETT PTY LTD (QUEENS WHARF PROJECT) UNION COLLECTIVE AGREEMENT 2022

Plumbing industry

DEPUTY PRESIDENT MASSON

MELBOURNE, 23 FEBRUARY 2024

Application for approval of the Cooke & Dowsett Pty Ltd (Queens Wharf Project) Union Collective Agreement 2022.

  1. An application has been made for approval of an enterprise agreement known as the Cooke & Dowsett Pty Ltd (Queens Wharf Project) Union Collective Agreement 2022 (the Agreement). The application was made pursuant to s.185 of the Fair Work Act 2009 (the Act). It has been made by the Communications, Electrical, Electronic, Energy, Information, Postal, Plumbing and Allied Services Union of Australia. The Agreement is a single enterprise agreement.

  1. The Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Secure Jobs, Better Pay) Act 2022 (Cth) (Amending Act) made a number of changes to enterprise agreement approval processes in Part 2-4 of the Fair Work Act, that commenced operation on 6 June 2023. The notification time for the Agreement under s.173(2) was 20 December 2023 and the Agreement was made on 17 January 2024. Accordingly, both the genuine agreement and the better off overall test requirements are those applying on and from 6 June 2023.

  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. I note that clause 32.5(a) may be inconsistent with the National Employment Standards (NES). The Applicant has provided a NES precedence clause as part of their written undertakings. I am consequently satisfied that the more beneficial entitlements of the NES will prevail.

  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 1 March 2024. The nominal expiry date of the Agreement is 1 November 2026.

DEPUTY PRESIDENT

Printed by authority of the Commonwealth Government Printer

<AE523630  PR771707>

Annexure A

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