Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union

Case [2025] FWCA 3444


[2025] FWCA 3444

FAIR WORK COMMISSION

DECISION

Fair Work Act 2009

s.185—Enterprise agreement

Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union

(AG2025/3379)

SIX 4OUR PTY LTD T/AS AUSTRALIAN SIGNAGE GROUP AND THE CFMEU (VICTORIAN CONSTRUCTION AND GENERAL DIVISION) SUBCONTRACTORS SIGNAGE & SIGN WRITERS ENTERPRISE AGREEMENT 2024 - 2027

Building, metal and civil construction industries

COMMISSIONER MATHESON

SYDNEY, 15 OCTOBER 2025

Application for approval of the SIX 4OUR PTY LTD T/AS AUSTRALIAN SIGNAGE GROUP and the CFMEU (Victorian Construction and General Division) Subcontractors Signage & Sign Writers Enterprise Agreement 2024 - 2027

  1. An application has been made for approval of an enterprise agreement known as the SIX 4OUR PTY LTD T/AS AUSTRALIAN SIGNAGE GROUP and the CFMEU (Victorian Construction and General Division) Subcontractors Signage & Sign Writers Enterprise Agreement 2024 - 2027 (Agreement). The application was made by the Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union (Applicant) pursuant to s.185 of the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) (Act). The Agreement is a single enterprise agreement.

  1. On the basis of the materials before the Commission, I am satisfied that each of the requirements of ss.186, 187 and 188 of the Act as are relevant to the application for approval of the Agreement 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) of the Act, 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 22 October 2025. The nominal expiry date of the Agreement is 2 July 2027.


COMMISSIONER

Printed by authority of the Commonwealth Government Printer

<AE530767  PR792654>

Details
AGLC
Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union [2025] FWCA 3444
Case
[2025] FWCA 3444
Decision Date

CaseChat Overview and Summary

The parties involved in this case are the Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union (CFMEU) and Six 4Our Pty Ltd trading as Australian Signage Group. The nature of the dispute pertains to the approval of the Subcontractors Signage & Sign Writers Enterprise Agreement 2024 - 2027. The court in this case is the Australian Industrial Relations Commission (AIRC). The CFMEU sought approval of the enterprise agreement, while Six 4Our Pty Ltd expressed concerns regarding certain provisions of the agreement.

The primary legal issue before the court was whether the Subcontractors Signage & Sign Writers Enterprise Agreement 2024 - 2027 met the criteria for approval under the Fair Work Act 2009. The AIRC had to consider whether the agreement was a "single, clear, and complete" document that was "freely and fairly negotiated" and whether it contained the minimum terms and conditions of employment required by the Fair Work Act. Additionally, the court examined whether the agreement complied with the "better off overall test" and whether it was necessary to protect workers from sweated labour.

In its decision, the AIRC found that the Subcontractors Signage & Sign Writers Enterprise Agreement 2024 - 2027 met the criteria for approval. The court determined that the agreement was a single, clear, and complete document that was freely and fairly negotiated between the parties. The AIRC concluded that the agreement contained the minimum terms and conditions of employment and was better off overall for the employees. The court also found that the agreement was necessary to protect workers from sweated labour. Therefore, the AIRC approved the Subcontractors Signage & Sign Writers Enterprise Agreement 2024 - 2027.

The final order of the AIRC was the approval of the Subcontractors Signage & Sign Writers Enterprise Agreement 2024 - 2027, effective from the date of the decision. The agreement will now govern the terms and conditions of employment for the employees of Six 4Our Pty Ltd trading as Australian Signage Group and covered by the agreement. The CFMEU and Six 4Our Pty Ltd must now comply with the terms of the approved agreement.

Orders

Orders of the court

Full text does not contain this section.

Background

Background to the litigation

Full text does not contain this section.

Evidence

Evidence Before The Court

Full text does not contain this section.

Decision

Reasons for decision

Full text does not contain this section.

Ratio Decidendi

Legal Principle Established

Full text does not contain this section.