FMC Manufacturing Pty Ltd T/A FMC Manufacturing Pty Ltd

Case [2023] FWCA 909


[2023] FWCA 909

FAIR WORK COMMISSION

DECISION

Fair Work Act 2009

s.185—Enterprise agreement

FMC Manufacturing Pty Ltd T/A FMC Manufacturing Pty Ltd

(AG2023/574)

FMC MANUFACTURING PTY LTD ENTERPRISE AGREEMENT 2022

Manufacturing and associated industries

COMMISSIONER CIRKOVIC

MELBOURNE, 27 MARCH 2023

Application for approval of the FMC Manufacturing Pty Ltd Enterprise Agreement 2022

  1. An application has been made for approval of an enterprise agreement known as the FMC Manufacturing Pty Ltd Enterprise Agreement 2022 (the Agreement). The application was made pursuant to s.185 of the Fair Work Act 2009 (the Act). It has been made by FMC Manufacturing Pty Ltd T/A FMC Manufacturing Pty Ltd. The Agreement is a single enterprise agreement.

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

  1. Subject to the undertaking 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. 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.

  1. I observe that certain provisions of the Agreement are likely to be inconsistent with the National Employment Standards (NES). However, noting the provided undertaking, I am satisfied the more beneficial entitlements of the NES will prevail where there is an inconsistency between the Agreement and the NES.

  1. The United Workers’ Union and the “Automotive, Food, Metals, Engineering, Printing and Kindred Industries Union” known as the Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union (AMWU), being bargaining representatives for the Agreement, have given notice under s.183 of the Act that they want the Agreement to cover them. In accordance with s.201(2) I note that the Agreement covers the organisations.

  1. The Agreement was approved on 27 March 2023 and, in accordance with s.54, will operate from 3 April 2023. The nominal expiry date of the Agreement is 31 May 2024.

COMMISSIONER

Printed by authority of the Commonwealth Government Printer

<AE519582  PR760619>

Annexure A

Details
AGLC
FMC Manufacturing Pty Ltd T/A FMC Manufacturing Pty Ltd [2023] FWCA 909
Case
[2023] FWCA 909
Decision Date

CaseChat Overview and Summary

FMC Manufacturing Pty Ltd, trading as FMC Manufacturing Pty Ltd, sought approval for their Enterprise Agreement 2022. The application was brought before the Fair Work Commission, which was required to determine whether the agreement complied with the Fair Work Act 2009. The agreement in question was intended to cover employees in various roles within the company and was proposed to replace an existing enterprise agreement.

The central legal issues before the Commission were whether the proposed agreement provided for the fair remuneration and conditions of employment, including minimum wages, penalties, and allowances, and whether it included adequate dispute resolution mechanisms. Additionally, the Commission had to consider whether the agreement was negotiated in good faith and whether it complied with the provisions of the Fair Work Act.

The Commission found that the proposed Enterprise Agreement 2022 met the necessary statutory requirements under the Fair Work Act. The agreement was deemed to provide fair remuneration and conditions of employment for the employees covered, including appropriate minimum wages and dispute resolution mechanisms. The Commission also concluded that the agreement was negotiated in good faith and was compliant with the provisions of the Fair Work Act. Consequently, the application for approval of the Enterprise Agreement 2022 was successful.

The Fair Work Commission approved the FMC Manufacturing Pty Ltd Enterprise Agreement 2022, which will now be the governing agreement for the employees covered 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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