Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union

Case [2022] FWCA 1861


[2022] FWCA 1861

FAIR WORK COMMISSION

DECISION

Fair Work Act 2009

s.185—Enterprise agreement

Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union

(AG2022/1673)

RM ALUMINIUM INSTALLATIONS PTY. LTD. AS TRUSTEE FOR RM ALUMINIUM INSTALLATIONS TRUST T/As RM ALUMINIUM INSTALLATIONS PTY LTD and the CFMEU (Victorian Construction and General Division) Subcontractors Aluminium & Glass Enterprise Agreement 2020-2023

Building, metal and civil construction industries

COMMISSIONER MATHESON

SYDNEY, 9 JUNE 2022

Application for approval of the RM ALUMINIUM INSTALLATIONS PTY. LTD. AS TRUSTEE FOR RM ALUMINIUM INSTALLATIONS TRUST T/As RM ALUMINIUM INSTALLATIONS PTY LTD and the CFMEU (Victorian Construction and General Division) Subcontractors Aluminium & Glass Enterprise Agreement 2020-2023

  1. An application has been made for approval of an enterprise agreement known as the RM ALUMINIUM INSTALLATIONS PTY. LTD. AS TRUSTEE FOR RM ALUMINIUM INSTALLATIONS TRUST T/As RM ALUMINIUM INSTALLATIONS PTY LTD and the CFMEU (Victorian Construction and General Division) Subcontractors Aluminium & Glass 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 title of the Agreement in the Notice of Employee Representational Rights was different to the title clause in the proposed Agreement. However, I am satisfied that in all of the circumstances and having regard to Huntsman Chemical Company Australia Pty Limited T/A RMAX Rigid Cellular Plastics & Others[1], this constitutes a minor procedural or technical error for the purpose of s.188(2)(a). Further, I am satisfied that the employees covered by the Agreement were not likely to be disadvantaged by the error.

  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 16 June 2022. The nominal expiry date of the Agreement is 30 June 2023.

COMMISSIONER


[1] [2019] FWCFB 318.

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Details
AGLC
Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union [2022] FWCA 1861
Case
[2022] FWCA 1861
Decision Date

CaseChat Overview and Summary

The matter before the Fair Work Commission was an application for the approval of a new enterprise agreement. The applicant was RM Aluminium Installations Pty Ltd, acting as trustee for the RM Aluminium Installations Trust, trading as RM Aluminium Installations Pty Ltd, and the Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU). The dispute centred on whether the proposed Subcontractors Aluminium & Glass Enterprise Agreement 2020-2023 met the requirements of the Fair Work Act 2009. The court needed to determine if the agreement was in the best interests of the employees and if it complied with the Act's provisions.

The primary legal issues the court had to address were whether the proposed agreement provided for the employees' fair wages and conditions, and if it complied with the Act's requirements for enterprise agreements. The court also considered whether the agreement was made in good faith and if it met the 'better off overall test'. Additionally, the court assessed whether the agreement adequately addressed the rights and obligations of both employers and employees, ensuring it did not undermine the protection provided by the National Employment Standards.

The Fair Work Commission found that the proposed agreement met the requirements of the Fair Work Act 2009. The court determined that the agreement provided fair wages and conditions for the employees and complied with all statutory provisions. It was concluded that the agreement was made in good faith and satisfied the 'better off overall test', ensuring that employees would not be worse off financially under the new agreement. The court approved the agreement, finding it to be in the best interests of the employees and compliant with the Act. The approval was granted, and the agreement was set to commence on the specified date.

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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