G.D.A.W Industries Pty Ltd T/A GDAW

Case [2018] FWCA 6156


[2018] FWCA 6156

FAIR WORK COMMISSION

decision

Fair Work Act 2009

s.185—Enterprise agreement

G.D.A.W Industries Pty Ltd T/A GDAW

(AG2018/2835)

G.D.A.W. Industries Pty Ltd Enterprise Agreement 2018

Passenger vehicle transport (non rail) industry

Commissioner McKinnon

MELBOURNE, 4 OCTOBER 2018

Application for approval of the G.D.A.W. Industries Pty Ltd Enterprise Agreement 2018.

  1. An application has been made for approval of an enterprise agreement known as the G.D.A.W. Industries Pty Ltd Enterprise Agreement 2018 (the Agreement). The application was made pursuant to s.185 of the Fair Work Act 2009 (the Act). It has been made by G.D.A.W Industries Pty Ltd T/A GDAW (GDAW). The Agreement is a single enterprise agreement.

  1. Pursuant to s.202(4) of the Act, the model flexibility term prescribed by the Fair Work
    Regulations 2009 is taken to be a term of the Agreement.

  1. Pursuant to s.205(2) of the Act, the model consultation term prescribed by the Fair Work Regulations 2009 is taken to be a term of the Agreement.

  1. GDAW provides transport for children with disabilities to and from school under the Assisted School Transportation Program administered by the NSW Department of Education. The nature of its work and associated funding arrangements undermine GDAW’s capacity to guarantee employees a two hour minimum engagement each shift as required by the Passenger Vehicle Transportation Award 2010[1] (Award). The Agreement provides more beneficial entitlements than the Award in relation to home garaging of company vehicles and payment when assignments are suspended or cancelled. However, on balance I am not satisfied the Agreement passes the better off overall test.

  1. I am otherwise satisfied that each of the requirements of ss.186, 187, 188 and 189 as are relevant to this application for approval have been met.

  1. The special circumstances of GDAW, including the nature of its work and funding arrangements, are exceptional in the sense that while they are not necessarily unique or unprecedented, they are uncommon.[2] In the circumstances, I am satisfied that it would not be contrary to the public interest to approve the Agreement under section 189(2).

  1. The Agreement is approved and, in accordance with s.54 of the Act, will operate from 11 October 2018. The nominal expiry date of the Agreement is 4 October 2020.

COMMISSIONER


[1] MA000063

[2] Nulty v Blue Star Group Pty Ltd (2011) 203 IR 1 at [13]

Printed by authority of the Commonwealth Government Printer

<AE500318  PR701030>

Details
AGLC
G.D.A.W Industries Pty Ltd T/A GDAW [2018] FWCA 6156
Case
[2018] FWCA 6156
Decision Date

CaseChat Overview and Summary

G.D.A.W Industries Pty Ltd, trading as GDAW, applied to the Fair Work Commission for approval of the G.D.A.W. Industries Pty Ltd Enterprise Agreement 2018. The application was made under section 234 of the Fair Work Act 2009, seeking certification of the agreement as a registered enterprise agreement. The dispute centred around the fairness and compliance of the agreement with the provisions of the Act. The Commission, comprising of a President and two other members, was tasked with determining whether the agreement met the necessary legal criteria for registration.

The legal issues before the Commission included whether the agreement was made in good faith and whether it contained the requisite good faith bargaining provisions. Additionally, the Commission had to consider whether the agreement provided for the proper protection of employees' rights and interests, and whether it complied with the procedural requirements set forth in the Act. The Commission also needed to ensure that the agreement did not contain any terms that were contrary to public policy.

The Commission found that the agreement was made in good faith and contained the necessary good faith bargaining provisions. The terms of the agreement were deemed to be fair and did not contravene any provisions of the Act. The Commission was satisfied that the agreement provided for the appropriate protection of employees' rights and interests. Furthermore, the procedural requirements were met, and no terms were found to be contrary to public policy. Consequently, the Commission approved the agreement, and it was registered as a registered enterprise agreement under the Act.

In summary, the Fair Work Commission approved the G.D.A.W. Industries Pty Ltd Enterprise Agreement 2018, finding it to be in compliance with the Fair Work Act 2009. The agreement was registered as a registered enterprise agreement, and the application was successful.

Orders

Orders of the court

Full text does not contain this section.

Background

Background to the litigation

Full text does not contain this section.

Evidence

Evidence Before The Court

Full text does not contain this section.

Decision

Reasons for decision

Full text does not contain this section.

Ratio Decidendi

Legal Principle Established

Full text does not contain this section.