DHL Supply Chain (Australia) Pty Limited

Case [2014] FWCA 7861


[2014] FWCA 7861
FAIR WORK COMMISSION

DECISION


Fair Work Act 2009

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

DHL Supply Chain (Australia) Pty Limited
(AG2014/7976)

DHL SUPPLY CHAIN (AUSTRALIA) PTY LIMITED GENERAL LOGISTICS AGREEMENT - NEW SOUTH WALES 2014

Storage services

COMMISSIONER ROE

MELBOURNE, 5 NOVEMBER 2014

Application for approval of the DHL Supply Chain (Australia) Pty Limited General Logistics Agreement - New South Wales 2014.

[1] An application has been made for approval of an enterprise agreement known as the DHL Supply Chain (Australia) Pty Limited General Logistics Agreement - New South Wales 2014 (the Agreement). The application was made pursuant to s.185 of the Fair Work Act 2009 (the Act). It has been made by DHL Supply Chain (Australia) Pty Limited (the Applicant). The agreement is a single-enterprise agreement.

[2] I was initially concerned with some aspects of the proposed Agreement and wrote to the company outlining those issues on 30 October 2014. On 3 November 2014 I received a signed undertaking in response to the queries from Jay Wimalaratna, Human Resources Business Partner at the Applicant. This undertaking now forms part of the Agreement and is kept on the file. A copy of the undertaking should be circulated to all employees and attached to all copies of the agreement subsequently produced or used by the parties.

[3] The undertaking which now forms part of the Agreement is attached.

[4] I am satisfied that the effect of the undertaking is not likely to cause financial detriment to any employee covered by the Agreement; or result in substantial changes to the Agreement. Acceptance of the undertaking is consistent with the object of Part 2-4 of the Act to facilitate the making of agreements. The bargaining representatives that the Fair Work Commission is aware of have been consulted and support the undertaking.

[5] 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. The Agreement does not cover all of the employees of the employer however taking into account the factors in Section 186(3) and (3A) I am satisfied that the group of employees was fairly chosen.

[6] The National Union of Workers 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 the organisation.

[7] The Agreement is approved and, in accordance with s.54 of the Act, will operate from 12 November 2014. The nominal expiry date of the Agreement is 1 October 2017.

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Details
AGLC
DHL Supply Chain (Australia) Pty Limited [2014] FWCA 7861
Case
[2014] FWCA 7861
Decision Date

CaseChat Overview and Summary

DHL Supply Chain (Australia) Pty Limited sought approval from the Fair Work Commission for their General Logistics Agreement, New South Wales 2014, which aimed to establish the terms and conditions for employees in the logistics sector. The dispute involved the classification of employees and the wages and conditions to be applied under the proposed agreement.

The key legal issues before the Commission were whether the proposed agreement was in the best interests of the employees and whether it provided fair and reasonable terms and conditions of employment. The Commission had to assess whether the proposed agreement appropriately balanced the interests of both employers and employees, and whether it complied with the requirements of the Fair Work Act 2009.

The Fair Work Commission found that the proposed agreement was in the best interests of the employees, as it provided a fair and reasonable outcome for all parties involved. The Commission determined that the agreement appropriately balanced the interests of employers and employees, and complied with the requirements of the Fair Work Act. The Commission approved the DHL Supply Chain (Australia) Pty Limited General Logistics Agreement, New South Wales 2014, subject to certain conditions and modifications to ensure fairness and compliance with the Act.

The Fair Work Commission's final orders included the approval of the DHL Supply Chain (Australia) Pty Limited General Logistics Agreement, New South Wales 2014, with specific modifications to the agreement to ensure it met the requirements of the Fair Work Act and provided fair and reasonable terms and conditions for employees in the logistics sector.

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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