Continental Freight Services (Aust) Pty Limited

[2013] FWCA 693

[2013] FWCA 693

FAIR WORK COMMISSION

DECISION

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

Continental Freight Services (Aust) Pty Limited
(AG2012/13099)

CONTINENTAL FREIGHT SERVICES (AUST) PTY LIMITED EMPLOYEES NATIONAL ENTERPRISE AGREEMENT 2012

Road transport industry
COMMISSIONER CAMBRIDGE	SYDNEY, 31 JANUARY 2013

Application for approval of the Continental Freight Services (Aust) Pty Limited Employees National Enterprise Agreement 2012.

[1] An application has been made for approval of an enterprise agreement known as the Continental Freight Services (Aust) Pty Limited Employees National Enterprise Agreement 2012(the Agreement). The application was made pursuant to s.185 of the Fair Work Act 2009 (the Act). The application has been made by Continental Freight Services (Aust) Pty Limited (the Employer). The Agreement is a single-enterprise agreement.

[2] The application was lodged at Sydney on 20 December 2012. The application included a Statutory Declaration of Michael Francis Knowles made on behalf of the Employer and dated 19 December 2012, (the Declaration). The Declaration stated that the Agreement was made on 18 December 2012. Therefore the application was made within the 14 day lodgement time limit established by subsection 185 (3) (a) of the Act.

[3] The application for approval was listed for Hearing on 22 January 2013 at which time Mr D Reid appeared for the Employer. During the proceeding held on 22 January, the Fair Work Commission (the Commission) identified various issues relating to the contents of documents accompanying the application for approval and certain terms contained in the Agreement which required clarification.

[4] Mr Reid provided some important clarifications during the Hearing. The Employer was invited to consider some residual issues raised by the Commission and to respond in writing. The Commission has received correspondence dated 25 January 2013, from the Employer, which included further material in support of the application together with Undertakings made by and duly signed by the Employer, and proposed to the Commission pursuant to s.190 of the Act (the Undertakings).

[5] Consequently I have further considered the application for approval having regard for the clarifications provided during the Hearing, the further material in support of the application, and the Undertakings.

[6] Part 2-4 of the Act includes various procedural requirements that must be satisfied before the Commission can approve of an enterprise agreement. I have further examined the contents of the Declaration in the context of the clarifications provided during the Hearing and the further material in support of the application. On the basis of this material I am satisfied that the procedural requirements of Part 2-4 of the Act have been met in this instance.

[7] I note that the Agreement contains a flexibility term at clause 10.2 and a consultation term at clause 10.3.

[8] I am prepared to accept the Undertakings. As provided by s.191 of the Act, the Undertakings are taken to be terms of the Agreement. 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.

[9] The Agreement as varied by the Undertakings is approved. In accordance with subsection 54 (1) of the Act, the Agreement will operate from 7 February 2013. In accordance with clause 1.3 (b) of the Agreement the nominal expiry date of the Agreement is 31 January 2016.

COMMISSIONER

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