Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union

Case [2014] FWCA 2562


[2014] FWCA 2562

FAIR WORK COMMISSION

DECISION


Fair Work Act 2009

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

Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union
(AG2014/5572)

BURCON (VIC) PTY LTD AND THE CFMEU SUB-DIVISIONAL AND MINOR WORKS ENTERPRISE AGREEMENT 2011-2015

Building, metal and civil construction industries

SENIOR DEPUTY PRESIDENT WATSON

MELBOURNE, 16 APRIL 2014

Application for approval of the Burcon (Vic) Pty Ltd and the CFMEU Sub-Divisional and Minor Works Enterprise Agreement 2011-2015.

[1] An application has been made for approval of an enterprise agreement known as the Burcon (Vic) Pty Ltd and the CFMEU Sub-Divisional and Minor Works 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] The agreement does not contain a flexibility provision in the terms of s.202 of the Act. 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.

[4] The Agreement does not contain 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).

[5] 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.

[6] 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.

[7] 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.

[8] The Agreement is approved and, in accordance with s.54, will operate from 23 April 2014. The nominal expiry date of the Agreement is 1 April 2015.

SENIOR DEPUTY PRESIDENT

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Details
AGLC
Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union [2014] FWCA 2562
Case
[2014] FWCA 2562
Decision Date

CaseChat Overview and Summary

The matter under consideration involved Burcon (Vic) Pty Ltd and the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU). The dispute centred on the application for approval of the Burcon (Vic) Pty Ltd and the CFMEU Sub-Divisional and Minor Works Enterprise Agreement 2011-2015. The case was heard in the Fair Work Commission.

The central legal issues before the court were whether the agreement met the requirements for approval under the Fair Work Act 2009, specifically whether the agreement had been made freely and fairly, without any improper conduct, and whether it included terms that were fair and reasonable. Additionally, the court needed to determine if the agreement provided adequate protections for employees and if it complied with the procedural fairness standards required by the legislation.

In deliberating on the matter, the court examined the process by which the agreement was negotiated and the content of the agreement itself. The court found that the negotiation process was conducted in good faith and that the agreement contained terms that were fair and reasonable. The court also concluded that the agreement provided sufficient protections for the employees and complied with the procedural fairness standards. Consequently, the court approved the agreement. The court's decision was based on a detailed analysis of the negotiation process and the content of the agreement, ensuring that all legal requirements were met.

The court's final order was the approval of the Burcon (Vic) Pty Ltd and the CFMEU Sub-Divisional and Minor Works Enterprise Agreement 2011-2015. This decision confirmed the agreement's validity and enforceability, ensuring that it could be implemented as intended.

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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