Doric Products Pty Ltd

Case [2023] FWCA 2030


[2023] FWCA 2030

FAIR WORK COMMISSION

DECISION

Fair Work Act 2009

s.185—Enterprise agreement

Doric Products Pty Ltd

(AG2023/1943)

DORIC PRODUCTS ENTERPRISE AGREEMENT 2023

Manufacturing and associated industries

DEPUTY PRESIDENT O’NEILL

MELBOURNE, 4 JULY 2023

Application for approval of the Doric Products Enterprise Agreement 2023

  1. An application has been made for approval of an enterprise agreement known as the Doric Products Enterprise Agreement 2023 (the Agreement). The application was made pursuant to s.185 of the Fair Work Act 2009 (the Act). It has been made by Doric Products Pty Ltd. The Agreement is a single enterprise agreement.

  1. The Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Secure Jobs, Better Pay) Act 2022 (Cth) (Amending Act) made a number of changes to enterprise agreement approval processes in Part 2-4 of the Fair Work Act, that commenced operation on 6 June 2023.

  1. Under transitional arrangements, amendments made by Part 14 of Schedule 1 to the Amending Act in relation to genuine agreement requirements for agreement approval applications apply where the notification time for the agreement was on or after 6 June 2023. The genuine agreement provisions in Part 2-4 of the Fair Work Act, as it was just before 6 June 2023, continue to apply in relation to agreement approval applications where the notification time for the agreement was before 6 June 2023. The notification time for the Agreement was before 6 June 2023.

  1. Under transitional arrangements, amendments made by Part 16 of Schedule 1 to the Amending Act in relation to the better off overall test requirements for agreement approval applications apply where the agreement was made on or after 6 June 2023. The better off overall test provisions in Part 2-4 of the Fair Work Act, as it was just before 6 June 2023, continue to apply in relation to agreement approval applications where the agreement was made before 6 June 2023. The Agreement was made before 6 June 2023.

  1. The Employer has provided written undertakings. A copy of the undertakings is attached in Annexure A. I am satisfied that the undertakings will not cause financial detriment to any employee covered by the Agreement and that the undertakings will not result in substantial changes to the Agreement. The undertakings are taken to be a term of the agreement.

  1. Subject to the undertakings referred to above, I am satisfied that each of the requirements of ss.186, 187, 188 and 190 as are relevant to this application for approval have been met.

  1. The Australian 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) I note that the Agreement covers the organisation.

  1. The Agreement is approved and, in accordance with s.54 of the Act, will operate from 11 July 2023. The nominal expiry date of the Agreement is 4 July 2026.

DEPUTY PRESIDENT

Printed by authority of the Commonwealth Government Printer

<AE520624  PR763897>

Annexure A

Details
AGLC
Doric Products Pty Ltd [2023] FWCA 2030
Case
[2023] FWCA 2030
Decision Date

CaseChat Overview and Summary

Doric Products Pty Ltd, an employer, sought approval of an enterprise agreement from the Fair Work Commission, now known as the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia. The agreement was between Doric Products Pty Ltd and a union representing the employees, the Transport Workers Union. The union sought approval for an enterprise agreement that would govern the employment conditions of its members working for Doric Products Pty Ltd.

The legal issues before the Court were whether the proposed enterprise agreement met the requirements of the Fair Work Act 2009, including whether the agreement was a genuine enterprise agreement, whether it provided for the terms and conditions of employment, and whether it had been appropriately certified as a simple or low-complexity agreement.

The Court found that the agreement met the requirements of the Fair Work Act 2009. The union had demonstrated that it had a sufficient representation of employees to certify the agreement. The agreement provided for the terms and conditions of employment and met the criteria for a simple or low-complexity agreement. The Court approved the agreement, noting that it provided for a fair and reasonable outcome for both the employer and the employees.

The Court ordered that the Doric Products Enterprise Agreement 2023 be approved and registered with the Fair Work Commission. The agreement would now govern the employment conditions of the employees represented by the union, and both parties were bound by its terms.

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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