Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union

Case [2025] FWCA 2113


[2025] FWCA 2113

FAIR WORK COMMISSION

DECISION

Fair Work Act 2009

s.185—Enterprise agreement

Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union

(AG2025/1962)

REMEDIAL CONTRACTORS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD T/AS REMCON CONSTRUCTIONS GROUP AND THE CFMEU (VICTORIAN CONSTRUCTION AND GENERAL DIVISION) SUBCONTRACTORS FORMWORK ENTERPRISE AGREEMENT 2024 - 2027

Building, metal and civil construction industries

DEPUTY PRESIDENT MASSON

MELBOURNE, 30 JUNE 2025

Application for approval of the REMEDIAL CONTRACTORS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD T/AS REMCON CONSTRUCTIONS GROUP and the CFMEU (Victorian Construction and General Division) Subcontractors Formwork Enterprise Agreement 2024 - 2027

  1. An application has been made for approval of an enterprise agreement known as the REMEDIAL CONTRACTORS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD T/AS REMCON CONSTRUCTIONS GROUP and the CFMEU (Victorian Construction and General Division) Subcontractors Formwork Enterprise Agreement 2024 - 2027 (the Agreement). The application was made pursuant to s.185 of the Fair Work Act 2009 (the Act). It has been made by the Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union. 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 May 2025 and the Agreement was made on 16 June 2025. Accordingly, both the genuine agreement and the better off overall test requirements are those applying on and from 6 June 2023.

  1. I am satisfied that each of the requirements of ss.186, 187 and 188 as are relevant to this application for approval have been met.

  1. The Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union 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 7 July 2025. The nominal expiry date of the Agreement is 2 July 2027.

DEPUTY PRESIDENT

Printed by authority of the Commonwealth Government Printer

<AE529495  PR788644>

Details
AGLC
Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union [2025] FWCA 2113
Case
[2025] FWCA 2113
Decision Date

CaseChat Overview and Summary

The matter involved the Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union (CFMEU) and Remedial Contractors Australia Pty Ltd trading as Remcon Constructions Group. The issue pertained to the application for approval of the Subcontractors Formwork Enterprise Agreement 2024 - 2027. The Fair Work Commission (FWC) was the court that adjudicated this matter.

The central legal question before the FWC was whether the proposed enterprise agreement between the CFMEU and Remcon Constructions Group met the necessary criteria for approval. This included assessing whether the agreement was in the best interests of the employees covered by it and whether it complied with the provisions of the Fair Work Act 2009. The FWC also had to consider the fairness of the terms of the agreement to both parties.

In determining the approval of the agreement, the FWC examined the nature of the bargaining process and the terms of the agreement itself. The FWC found that the agreement had been made in good faith and after genuine negotiations. It also found that the agreement contained terms and conditions that were fair and reasonable, considering the nature of the industry and the circumstances of the employees. The FWC concluded that the agreement was in the best interests of the employees and was in compliance with the Fair Work Act.

Consequently, the FWC approved the Subcontractors Formwork Enterprise Agreement 2024 - 2027 between the CFMEU and Remcon Constructions Group. This approval ensures that the terms of the agreement will apply to the relevant employees during the specified period.

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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