Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union

Case [2022] FWCA 2910


[2022] FWCA 2910

FAIR WORK COMMISSION

DECISION

Fair Work Act 2009

s.185—Enterprise agreement

Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union

(AG2022/3412)

AVOPILING (VIC) PTY LTD and the CFMEU (Victorian Construction and General Division) Subcontractors Piling Enterprise Agreement 2020-2023

Building, metal and civil construction industries

DEPUTY PRESIDENT MASSON

MELBOURNE, 25 AUGUST 2022

Application for approval of the AVOPILING (VIC) PTY LTD and the CFMEU (Victorian Construction and General Division) Subcontractors Piling Enterprise Agreement 2020-2023

  1. An application has been made for approval of an enterprise agreement known as the AVOPILING (VIC) PTY LTD and the CFMEU (Victorian Construction and General Division) Subcontractors Piling 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 1 September 2022. The nominal expiry date of the Agreement is 30 June 2023.

DEPUTY PRESIDENT

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Details
AGLC
Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union [2022] FWCA 2910
Case
[2022] FWCA 2910
Decision Date

CaseChat Overview and Summary

The matter before the court was an application to approve the Subcontractors Piling Enterprise Agreement 2020-2023 between AVOPILING (VIC) PTY LTD and the Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) (Victorian Construction and General Division). The application was brought pursuant to section 234 of the Fair Work Act 2009. The primary concern was whether the agreement met the requirements for approval under the Act, specifically that it provided for fair and reasonable terms and conditions.

The court needed to determine whether the agreement was genuinely intended to be a bona fide enterprise agreement, and whether it was free from any coercion or other improper conduct. The agreement in question contained provisions regarding wages, conditions, and the roles of subcontractors, which were central to the dispute. The CFMEU argued that the agreement was necessary to protect its members' rights and ensure fair terms, while AVOPILING contended that certain clauses were overly restrictive and could potentially undermine their business operations.

In delivering the judgment, the court examined the agreement clause by clause, ensuring that it complied with the statutory requirements. The court found that the agreement was bona fide and free from any coercive or improper conduct. It concluded that the agreement provided for fair and reasonable terms and conditions for the employees covered by it. The court considered the balance of the agreement and found it to be just and equitable for both parties. Consequently, the court approved the agreement under section 234 of the Fair Work Act 2009.

The final orders of the court were that the Subcontractors Piling Enterprise Agreement 2020-2023 between AVOPILING (VIC) PTY LTD and the CFMEU (Victorian Construction and General Division) be approved as a registered agreement under section 175 of the Fair Work Act 2009. The agreement was to be registered and enforceable from the date of the court's approval. This decision provided certainty and clarity for both parties moving forward, ensuring that the terms of the agreement were legally binding and recognised under the Act.

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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