| [2022] FWCA 610 |
| FAIR WORK COMMISSION |
| DECISION |
Fair Work Act 2009
s.185—Enterprise agreement
DHL Supply Chain (Australia) Pty Limited
(AG2022/259)
DHL Supply Chain Parkwest - VIC Enterprise Agreement 2021
| Storage services | |
| COMMISSIONER CIRKOVIC | MELBOURNE, 22 FEBRUARY 2022 |
Application for approval of the DHL Supply Chain Parkwest - VIC Enterprise Agreement 2021
DHL Supply Chain (Australia) Pty Limited (the Applicant) has made an application for approval of an enterprise agreement known as the DHL Supply Chain Parkwest - VIC Enterprise Agreement 2021 (the Agreement) pursuant to s.185 of the Fair Work Act 2009 (the Act). The agreement is a single enterprise agreement.
The matter was allocated to my Chambers on 18 February 2022.
On 18 February 2022 my Chambers sent correspondence to the parties seeking to address concerns with certain aspects of the Agreement and invited the parties to address these matters. The concerns were as follows:
· Chambers sought additional information from the employer to establish what was told to employees to be satisfied s.180 (5) was met.
· An undertaking was sought that provided that the definition of shift worker, for the purpose of the Agreement, would be consistent with the Award.
· Clause 29 relating to carer’s leave and clause 19.2 relating to public holidays may be inconsistent with the National Employment Standards (NES) however the effective NES precedence term at clause 4.2 of the Agreement is deemed to resolve these NES concerns.
The Applicant has submitted an undertaking in the required form dated 21 February 2022. The undertaking deals with the following topics:
· The Applicant provided a definition of shiftworker for the purposes of the National Employment Standards (NES).
A copy of the undertaking has been provided to the bargaining representative and I have sought its view in accordance with s.190(4) of the Act. The bargaining representative that responded, did not have any objections to the undertaking.
The undertaking appears to meet the requirements of s.190(3) of the Act and I have accepted it. As a result, the undertakings are taken to be a term of the Agreement.
The United Workers’ Union, 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) of the Act I note that the Agreement covers this organisation.
I am satisfied that each of the requirements of ss.186, 187, 188 and 190 of the Act as are relevant to this application for approval have been met.
The Agreement is approved and, in accordance with s.54 of the Act, will operate from 7 days after the date of approval of the Agreement. The nominal expiry date is 15 August 2024.
COMMISSIONER
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- AGLC
- DHL Supply Chain (Australia) Pty Limited [2022] FWCA 610
- Case
- [2022] FWCA 610
- Decision Date
CaseChat Overview and Summary
The primary legal issues for the Commission to determine were whether the agreement provided for the appropriate matters required by section 228 of the Act, was free from any illegality or inequity, and had been made in accordance with the procedural requirements of the Act. Furthermore, the Commission needed to ensure that the agreement met the "better off overall test" stipulated in section 179 of the Act, which requires that the terms of the agreement be at least as good as the relevant awards or other applicable instruments. The Commission also needed to consider whether the agreement provided for the proper registration of the agreement with the Commission and whether it had been appropriately notified to employees.
After reviewing the agreement, the Commission found that it was a lawful and valid enterprise agreement. It concluded that the agreement appropriately addressed all the required matters and was free from any illegality or inequity. The Commission determined that the agreement met the "better off overall test" and had been made in compliance with the procedural requirements of the Act. The agreement had been properly registered and notified to employees, satisfying all statutory obligations. The Commission approved the agreement, finding it to be a fair and reasonable enterprise agreement.
The Fair Work Commission approved the DHL Supply Chain Parkwest - VIC Enterprise Agreement 2021, determining that it complied with all legal requirements and met the necessary standards for enterprise agreements. The Commission's decision confirms the agreement as a lawful and valid enterprise agreement, ensuring the rights and protections of employees are upheld under the Fair Work Act 2009.
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