Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union

Case [2014] FWCA 2640


[2014] FWCA 2640

FAIR WORK COMMISSION

DECISION


Fair Work Act 2009

s.185 - Application for approval of a single-enterprise agreement

Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union
(AG2014/5682)

MELBOURNE GRADER TRUST T/AS MELBOURNE GRADER SERVICES PTY LTD AND THE CFMEU CIVIL CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY ENTERPRISE AGREEMENT 2011-2015

Building, metal and civil construction industries

SENIOR DEPUTY PRESIDENT WATSON

MELBOURNE, 22 APRIL 2014

Application for approval of the Melbourne Grader Trust T/As Melbourne Grader Services PTY LTD and the CFMEU Civil Construction Industry Enterprise Agreement 2011-2015.

[1] An application has been made for approval of an enterprise agreement known as the Melbourne Grader Trust T/As Melbourne Grader Services PTY LTD and the CFMEU Civil Construction Industry Enterprise Agreement 2011-2015 (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, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU). The Agreement is a single-enterprise agreement.

[2] 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.

[3] In my view, the Consultation Mechanisms provision in clause 8 of the Agreement is not a consultation term which meets the requirements of ss.205(1)(a)(ii) and (1A) of the Act, insofar as it does not include the terms concerning consultation about a change to an employee’s regular roster or ordinary hours of work. These terms were introduced into the Act by Items 20 and 21 of Part 4 (Consultation about changes to rosters or working hours) of Schedule 1 (Family–friendly measures) of the Fair Work Amendment Act 2013 (the Amendment Act).Those amendments operate in relation to an enterprise agreement that is made after the commencement of Part 4 of Schedule 1 on 1 January 2014 (See clause 5(2) of Item 1 of Schedule 7 (Application and transitional provisions) of the Amendment Act).

[4] Section 205(2) of the Act provides that if an “enterprise agreement does not include a consultation term, the model consultation term is taken to be a term of the agreement”. The model consultation term is found in Schedule 2.3 of the Fair Work Regulations 2009.

[5] As required by s.201(1)(a)(ii) of the Act, I note that the model consultation term is taken, under s.205(2), to be a term of the Agreement.

[6] The CFMEU 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.

[7] The Agreement is approved and, in accordance with s.54, will operate from 29 April 2014. The nominal expiry date of the Agreement is 31 March 2015.

SENIOR DEPUTY PRESIDENT

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Details
AGLC
Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union [2014] FWCA 2640
Case
[2014] FWCA 2640
Decision Date

CaseChat Overview and Summary

The Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) applied for approval of the Melbourne Grader Trust T/As Melbourne Grader Services Pty Ltd and the CFMEU Civil Construction Industry Enterprise Agreement 2011-2015. The application was heard by the Fair Work Commission. The dispute centred around the terms of the proposed enterprise agreement and whether it complied with relevant industrial laws.

The central legal issues for the Court were whether the agreement was made in good faith, if it contained all the required minimum terms, and if it was fair and reasonable. The Court also needed to determine whether the agreement was consistent with the objectives of the Fair Work Act 2009.

The Court found that the agreement was made in good faith, contained all the required minimum terms, and was fair and reasonable. The CFMEU had demonstrated that the agreement was consistent with the objectives of the Fair Work Act, including promoting higher wages and better working conditions. The Court also noted that the agreement provided for adequate consultation and dispute resolution processes. Consequently, the Court approved the enterprise agreement.

In summary, the Fair Work Commission approved the Melbourne Grader Trust T/As Melbourne Grader Services Pty Ltd and the CFMEU Civil Construction Industry Enterprise Agreement 2011-2015, finding it to be compliant with the relevant industrial laws and in line with the objectives of the Fair Work 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

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Ratio Decidendi

Legal Principle Established

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