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

Case [2022] FWCA 4151


[2022] FWCA 4151

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

(AG2022/4816)

Firematic Sprinklers and CEPU - Plumbing Division (Vic) Fire Protection Agreement Victoria 2020-2023

Plumbing industry

DEPUTY PRESIDENT COLMAN

MELBOURNE, 25 NOVEMBER 2022

Application for approval of the Firematic Sprinklers and CEPU - Plumbing Division (Vic) Fire Protection Agreement Victoria 2020-2023

  1. The Communications, Electrical, Electronic, Energy, Information, Postal, Plumbing and Allied Services Union of Australia (CEPU) has made an application for approval of an enterprise agreement known as the Firematic Sprinklers and CEPU - Plumbing Division (Vic) Fire Protection Agreement Victoria 2020-2023 (the Agreement) pursuant to s 185 of the Fair Work Act 2009 (the Act). The Agreement is a single enterprise agreement.

  1. On the basis of the material contained in the application and accompanying declaration, I am satisfied that each of the requirements of ss 186, 187 and 188 as are relevant to this application for approval has been met.

  1. The CEPU, 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) and based on its declaration, I note that the Agreement covers the CEPU.

  1. The Agreement was approved on 25 November 2022 and, in accordance with s 54, will operate from 2 December 2022. The nominal expiry date of the Agreement is 31 October 2023.

DEPUTY PRESIDENT
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<AE518318  PR748327>

Details
AGLC
Communications, Electrical, Electronic, Energy, Information, Postal, Plumbing and Allied Services Union of Australia [2022] FWCA 4151
Case
[2022] FWCA 4151
Decision Date

CaseChat Overview and Summary

The matter before the court involved an application for the approval of the Firematic Sprinklers and CEPU - Plumbing Division (Vic) Fire Protection Agreement Victoria 2020-2023. The applicant sought approval of this agreement under the Fair Work Act 2009, specifically section 234, which pertains to the approval of enterprise agreements. The court's role was to determine whether the agreement met the legal criteria for approval, including compliance with the Act and the Fair Work Regulations 2009.

The primary legal issues before the court included whether the agreement was an enterprise agreement as defined by the Fair Work Act, and whether it satisfied the formal requirements for approval. The court also needed to consider whether the agreement included all the mandatory terms prescribed by the regulations and whether it was made in good faith and without the use of undue influence or coercion. The court had to ensure that the agreement provided for the resolution of disputes and met the procedural fairness requirements.

In delivering its decision, the court found that the Firematic Sprinklers and CEPU - Plumbing Division (Vic) Fire Protection Agreement Victoria 2020-2023 complied with the legal criteria for approval. The court confirmed that the agreement was an enterprise agreement within the meaning of the Fair Work Act and met all the formal requirements for approval. The agreement was found to include all the mandatory terms prescribed by the regulations, was made in good faith, and provided for the resolution of disputes. The court was satisfied that the procedural fairness requirements had been met, and thus, approved the agreement under section 234 of the Fair Work Act.

The court's final order was that the Firematic Sprinklers and CEPU - Plumbing Division (Vic) Fire Protection Agreement Victoria 2020-2023 be approved in accordance with the Fair Work Act and the Fair Work Regulations 2009. This approval means the agreement can now operate as a legally binding contract between the parties involved.

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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