Communications, Electrical, Electronic, Energy, Information, Postal, Plumbing and Allied Services Union of Australia v Chubb Fire and Security Pty Ltd

Case [2025] FWC 1317


[2025] FWC 1317

The attached document wholly replaces the document previously issued with code [2025] FWC 1298 to correct document referencing

Associate to Deputy President Hampton

Dated 12 May 2025.

[2025] FWC 1317

FAIR WORK COMMISSION

DECISION

Fair Work Act 2009

s.437 - Application for a protected action ballot order

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

v

Chubb Fire and Security Pty Ltd

(B2025/768)

DEPUTY PRESIDENT HAMPTON

ADELAIDE, 12 MAY 2025

Proposed protected action ballot of employees of Chubb Fire & Security Pty Ltd

  1. This is an application by the Communications, Electrical, Electronic, Energy, Information, Postal, Plumbing and Allied Services Union of Australia acting through its Plumbing Division - Victorian District Branch (CEPU or Applicant) made under s.437 of the Fair Work Act 2009 (Act) for a protected action ballot order in relation to certain employees of Chubb Fire and Security Pty Ltd (Chubb or Employer).

  1. On 8 May 2025, the Commission was advised that the Employer, in effect, did not object to the Application, as amended.

  1. In the circumstances, I have decided to determine the matter on the papers without holding a hearing.

  1. On the basis of the material before me, including the declaration of Paul Coffey, Industrial Officer, setting out the steps taken by the CEPU in bargaining with the Employer and that it has been, and is, genuinely trying to reach agreement with Chubb, I am satisfied that there is a notification time in relation to the proposed agreement and that all of  the requirements in s.443(1) of the Act have been met.

  1. The ballot is to be conducted by Australian Electoral Commission (AEC).  

  1. For the purposes of s.443(3)(c) of the Act, the Commission has determined that the date by which voting is to close is 24 June 2025.[1] This also establishes the ballot period for the purpose of s.448A(2) of the Act.

  1. An Order has been separately issued in PR787188.

  1. This matter will be assigned to another Member of the Commission to conduct the s.448A compulsory conciliation conference. That Member will issue an Order requiring the attendance of all bargaining representatives in the proposed enterprise agreement at the conference. It is likely that Directions will also be issued to ensure that the parties attend the conference ready to conduct meaningful negotiations.

DEPUTY PRESIDENT


[1] This is, in effect, 30 working days from the making of the Order, which is the minimum period required by the AEC.

Printed by authority of the Commonwealth Government Printer

<PR787246>

Details
AGLC
Communications, Electrical, Electronic, Energy, Information, Postal, Plumbing and Allied Services Union of Australia v Chubb Fire and Security Pty Ltd [2025] FWC 1317
Case
[2025] FWC 1317
Decision Date

CaseChat Overview and Summary

The Communications, Electrical, Electronic, Energy, Information, Postal, Plumbing and Allied Services Union of Australia, acting through its Plumbing Division - Victorian District Branch (CEPU or Applicant), has applied to the Fair Work Commission for a protected action ballot order in relation to certain employees of Chubb Fire and Security Pty Ltd (Chubb or Employer). The application was made under s.437 of the Fair Work Act 2009. The Commission was informed that Chubb did not object to the application, prompting Deputy President Hampton to decide to determine the matter based on the provided documents without a hearing.

The legal issues before the court involved confirming whether the CEPU had genuinely attempted to reach an agreement with Chubb, and if all requirements under s.443(1) of the Act were met. The CEPU needed to demonstrate a notification time for the proposed agreement, and the court had to ensure the ballot would be conducted by the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC). Additionally, the court had to determine the closing date for voting, which needed to be at least 30 working days from the order, as required by the AEC.

Deputy President Hampton concluded that the CEPU had indeed been genuinely trying to reach an agreement with Chubb and that all the requirements under s.443(1) of the Act were satisfied. The court set the closing date for voting as 24 June 2025, which also established the ballot period for the purposes of s.448A(2) of the Act. Furthermore, the matter was to be assigned to another member of the Commission to conduct a compulsory conciliation conference, and all bargaining representatives in the proposed enterprise agreement were required to attend. Directions were anticipated to ensure the parties were ready for meaningful negotiations.

The court issued an order for the protected action ballot to proceed and separately issued an order in PR787188. Another member of the Commission was assigned to conduct the compulsory conciliation conference, with directions to be issued to ensure the parties' readiness for meaningful negotiations.

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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