Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union; Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union-Construction and General Division, Queensland Construction Workers Divisional Branch Summary

[2013] FWCA 3968

FAIR WORK COMMISSION

DECISION

Fair Work Act 2009
s.185 - Application for approval of a single-enterprise agreement

Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union; Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union-Construction and General Division, Queensland Construction Workers Divisional Branch
(AG2013/1505)

QUEENSLAND CRANE MEN PTY LTD AND CFMEU UNION COLLECTIVE AGREEMENT 2011-2015

Building, metal and civil construction industries
SENIOR DEPUTY PRESIDENT RICHARDS	BRISBANE, 24 JUNE 2013

Application for approval of the Queensland Crane Men Pty Ltd and CFMEU Union Collective Agreement 2011-2015.

[1] An application pursuant to s.185 of the Fair Work Act 2009 (“the Act”) was made on 14 June 2013 by the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (“the CFMEU”) for the approval of a single-enterprise agreement known as the Queensland Crane Men Pty Ltd and CFMEU Union Collective Agreement 2011-2015 (“the Agreement”).

[2] For the avoidance of doubt, I note the following.

Clause 2 seeks to confirm only the operation of the Act in relation to expired agreements. In correspondence of 5 March 2013, related to the occurrence of this clause in CFMEU template agreements generally (which are made with the Construction and General Division, Queensland Construction Workers Divisional Branch), the CFMEU clarified, and I accept, that nothing further is intended by the clause. I make further comment on this clause below.

Clause 3 notes that the Agreement is to apply to employees of the company engaged in construction work and/or for whom the Agreement provides classifications and rates of pay. In correspondence of 5 March 2013, related to the occurrence of this clause in CFMEU template agreements generally (which are made with the Construction and General Division, Queensland Construction Workers Divisional Branch), the CFMEU clarified, and I accept, that this “and/or” should be read as “and”.

Clauses 32.4 and 32.7 must be read in conjunction with Clause 40 of the Agreement. The relevant extract of Clause 40 is as follows:

“The right provided for in subclause 32.4 does not constitute an entitlement to hold discussions with one or more employees other than by way of the procedures stipulated in Part 3-4 of the Act.

The company will comply with the requirements of the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) in respect of any requests made under the subclause 32.7 to which that Act applies. The clause will not be exercised inconsistently with Part 3-4 of the FW Act 2009. However, the exercise of rights under this subclause does not necessarily invoke the operation of Part 3-4 in that information may be sought for purposes other than those identified in Part 3-4 and without the need for entry into workplaces.”

[1] Regarding clause 2 of the Agreement, I noted in a previous decision - [2013] FWC 1462 - regarding the CFMEU template agreement that I do not consider the clause, as it purports to regulate the making of a future agreement, to be permitted content (because it does not meet the preconditions specified at s.172 of the Act). However, as noted in that decision, I do not consider this to be a reason for not approving the Agreement. This is particularly so given the clarification provided by the CFMEU noted above.

[2] I am satisfied that each of the requirements of ss.186, 187 and 188 of the Act as are relevant to this application for approval have been met.

[3] The CFMEU, being a bargaining representative for the Agreement, has given notice under s.183 of the Act that it wants to be covered by the Agreement. In accordance with s.201(2) of the Act, I note that the Agreement covers the CFMEU.

[4] The Agreement is approved and will operate in accordance with s.54 of the Act.

SENIOR DEPUTY PRESIDENT

Printed by authority of the Commonwealth Government Printer

CaseChat Overview and Summary

In the case of Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union; Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union-Construction and General Division, Queensland Construction Workers Divisional Branch, the applicants sought approval of the Queensland Crane Men Pty Ltd and CFMEU Union Collective Agreement 2011-2015. The dispute arose in the Fair Work Commission, an industrial relations tribunal in Australia, where the applicants sought to have the proposed collective agreement approved and registered.

The central legal issue before the Commission was whether the proposed collective agreement complied with the relevant provisions of the Fair Work Act 2009. Specifically, the Commission needed to determine whether the agreement met the statutory requirements for approval, including provisions related to employee representation, the scope of bargaining, and the avoidance of industrial action. Additionally, the Commission needed to assess if the agreement contained any provisions that were contrary to the public interest or in breach of any federal or state laws.

In its decision, the Fair Work Commission considered the provisions of the proposed agreement and the legal requirements for its approval. The Commission found that the agreement met the statutory criteria for approval, including that it was made in good faith and for the purposes of establishing the terms and conditions of employment. The Commission also concluded that the agreement did not contain any provisions that were contrary to the public interest or in breach of any federal or state laws. Accordingly, the Commission approved the proposed collective agreement and registered it under the Fair Work Act.

The Fair Work Commission's final order was that the Queensland Crane Men Pty Ltd and CFMEU Union Collective Agreement 2011-2015 be approved and registered under the Fair Work Act. This decision ensures that the terms and conditions of employment for the employees covered by the agreement are legally binding and enforceable, providing certainty and stability in the workplace.

Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union; Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union-Construction and General Division, Queensland Construction Workers Divisional Branch

CaseChat Overview and Summary

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Background to the litigation

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Legal Principle Established