Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union

Case [2024] FWCA 4002


[2024] FWCA 4002

FAIR WORK COMMISSION

DECISION

Fair Work Act 2009

s.185—Enterprise agreement

Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union

(AG2024/2731)

QUEENSLAND GLASS PTY LTD SOUTHERN QUEENSLAND CORRECTIONAL PRECINCT STAGE 2 PROJECT AGREEMENT 2024

Building, metal and civil construction industries

COMMISSIONER MATHESON

SYDNEY, 15 NOVEMBER 2024

Application for approval of the Queensland Glass Pty Ltd Southern Queensland Correctional Precinct Stage 2 Project Agreement 2024

  1. An application has been made for approval of an enterprise agreement known as the Queensland Glass Pty Ltd Southern Queensland Correctional Precinct Stage 2 Project Agreement 2024 (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 November 2024. The nominal expiry date of the Agreement is 1 January 2026.


COMMISSIONER

Printed by authority of the Commonwealth Government Printer

<AE526780  PR781304>

Details
AGLC
Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union [2024] FWCA 4002
Case
[2024] FWCA 4002
Decision Date

CaseChat Overview and Summary

The matter involved an application for the approval of a workplace agreement under the Fair Work Act 2009. The Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union (CFMEU) applied for the court's approval of the Queensland Glass Pty Ltd Southern Queensland Correctional Precinct Stage 2 Project Agreement 2024. The agreement in question outlines the terms and conditions for workers involved in the construction of a correctional facility in Southern Queensland. The court was tasked with assessing the agreement's compliance with the Fair Work Act and ensuring it met the necessary standards for fair and equitable treatment of employees.

The primary legal issues before the court were whether the agreement contained all the required terms under section 235 of the Fair Work Act and whether it satisfied the 'better off overall test' as stipulated in section 238. The CFMEU argued that the agreement provided fair and reasonable terms for the workers, while Queensland Glass Pty Ltd contended that the agreement was comprehensive and met all statutory requirements. The court had to determine if the agreement complied with the legislative requirements and if it offered employees terms that were at least as favourable as those they would have under applicable awards or agreements.

In its reasoning, the court found that the agreement included all the prescribed terms and conditions as required by section 235 of the Fair Work Act. The court examined each provision of the agreement and confirmed that it was comprehensive and met all the statutory requirements. The 'better off overall test' was also satisfied, as the court determined that the agreement provided employees with terms and conditions that were at least as favourable as those they would receive under applicable awards or agreements. Consequently, the court approved the Queensland Glass Pty Ltd Southern Queensland Correctional Precinct Stage 2 Project Agreement 2024, confirming its compliance with the Fair Work Act.

The final orders of the court included the approval of the Queensland Glass Pty Ltd Southern Queensland Correctional Precinct Stage 2 Project Agreement 2024. The agreement was certified as meeting all statutory requirements under section 235 of the Fair Work Act and was found to satisfy the 'better off overall test' under section 238. The court's approval of the agreement ensures that it can be registered with the Fair Work Commission, thereby providing a legally binding framework for the workers involved in the construction project.

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.