Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union

[2014] FWCA 3479

[2014] FWCA 3468

FAIR WORK COMMISSION

DECISION

Fair Work Act 2009
s.185—Enterprise agreement

Comselec Group Pty Ltd
(AG2014/953)

COMSELEC GROUP PTY LTD ENTERPRISE AGREEMENT 2014 - 2018

Electrical contracting industry
DEPUTY PRESIDENT GOSTENCNIK	MELBOURNE, 26 MAY 2014

Application for approval of the Comselec Group Pty Ltd Enterprise Agreement 2014 - 2018.

[1] An application has been made for approval of an enterprise agreement known as the Comselec Group Pty Ltd Enterprise Agreement 2014 - 2018 (the Agreement). The application was made pursuant to s.185 of the Fair Work Act 2009 (the Act). It has been made by Comselec Group Pty Ltd. The agreement is a single enterprise agreement.

[2] The Applicant has provided written undertakings. A copy of the undertakings is attached in Annexure A. I am satisfied that the undertakings will not cause financial detriment to any employee covered by the Agreement and that the undertakings will not result in substantial changes to the Agreement.

[3] Subject to the undertakings referred to above, I am satisfied that each of the requirements of ss.186, 187, 188 and 190 as are relevant to this application for approval have been met.

[4] Pursuant to s.205(2) of the Act, the model consultation term prescribed by the Fair Work Regulations 2009 is taken to be a term of the Agreement.

[5] The notice of employee representational rights issued by the Applicant to employees of Comselec Group Pty Ltd did not strictly comply with the prescribed form as required under s. 174 of the Act. This is because it referred to “Fair Work Australia” instead of “Fair Work Commission”. It is obvious that the Applicant had used the form approved prior to 1 January 2013. I am however satisfied that s. 25B of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901 applies to the notice with the consequence that reference to “Fair Work Australia” is taken to be of reference to “Fair Work Commission”. The provisions of s. 174 do not express a contrary intention which would have the result that s. 25B not apply. In the circumstances I am also satisfied the issuing of the notice in the form pre-2013 did not have any effect on the employee’s rights to appoint a bargaining representative.

[6] The Agreement was approved on 26 May 2014 and, in accordance with s.54, will operate from 2 June 2014. The nominal expiry date of the Agreement is 26 May 2018.

DEPUTY PRESIDENT

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Annexure A