Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union

Case [2022] FWCA 3871


[2022] FWCA 3871

FAIR WORK COMMISSION

DECISION

Fair Work Act 2009

s.185—Enterprise agreement

Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union

(AG2022/4484)

KHAN EARTHWORKS PTY LTD AND THE CFMEU (VICTORIAN CONSTRUCTION AND GENERAL DIVISION) SUBCONTRACTORS EARTHMOVING, EXCAVATION AND DRAINAGE ENTERPRISE AGREEMENT 2020-2023

Building, metal and civil construction industries

COMMISSIONER LEE

MELBOURNE, 7 NOVEMBER 2022

Application for approval of the KHAN EARTHWORKS PTY LTD and the CFMEU (Victorian Construction and General Division) Subcontractors Earthmoving, Excavation and Drainage Enterprise Agreement 2020-2023

  1. An application has been made for approval of an enterprise agreement known as the KHAN EARTHWORKS PTY LTD and the CFMEU (Victorian Construction and General Division) Subcontractors Earthmoving, Excavation and Drainage Enterprise Agreement 2020-2023 (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, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union. The Agreement is a single enterprise agreement.

  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. Pursuant to s.202(4) of the Act, the model flexibility term prescribed by the Fair Work Regulations 2009 is taken to be a term of the Agreement.

  1. The Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy 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 14 November 2022. The nominal expiry date of the Agreement is 30 June 2023.

COMMISSIONER

Printed by authority of the Commonwealth Government Printer

<AE518057  PR747601>

Details
AGLC
Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union [2022] FWCA 3871
Case
[2022] FWCA 3871
Decision Date

CaseChat Overview and Summary

The case before the court involved an application for the approval of a proposed enterprise agreement between Khan Earthworks Pty Ltd and the Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union (Victorian Construction and General Division) Subcontractors Earthmoving, Excavation and Drainage Enterprise Agreement 2020-2023. The matter was heard in the Fair Work Commission, the Australian workplace relations tribunal, with a focus on whether the agreement met the necessary criteria for approval under the Fair Work Act 2009.

The legal issues central to the case revolved around the compliance of the proposed enterprise agreement with the provisions of the Fair Work Act, specifically whether the agreement was a "better-off overall-test" compliant agreement, and whether it contained all the mandated minimum terms and conditions of employment as required by the Fair Work Act. The agreement's compliance with the "no-disadvantage test" was also scrutinized, ensuring that employees under the agreement were not worse off than if they were covered by the applicable award.

In reaching its decision, the Commission considered the evidence presented by both parties and examined the terms of the proposed agreement in detail. The Commission determined that the agreement was compliant with the statutory requirements of the Fair Work Act, including the better-off overall-test and the no-disadvantage test. The Commission found that the agreement contained all the mandated minimum terms and conditions and that it did not result in any employee being worse off. Consequently, the Commission approved the proposed enterprise agreement, allowing it to come into effect.

Following the Commission's approval, the final orders of the court mandated that the agreement be registered with the Fair Work Commission and that it would apply to the employees of Khan Earthworks Pty Ltd from the date of the decision. The agreement was to be binding on the parties and would operate as a registered enterprise agreement under the Fair Work Act.

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.