Gundagai and District Hostel Association Inc T/A Uralba Hostel

Case [2018] FWCA 1718


[2018] FWCA 1718

FAIR WORK COMMISSION

decision

Fair Work Act 2009

s.185—Enterprise agreement

Gundagai and District Hostel Association Inc T/A Uralba Hostel

(AG2017/4691)

Gundagai and District Hostel AccomModation Inc, NSWNMA and HSU NSW Enterprise Agreement 2017 - 2020

Aged care industry

Commissioner Saunders

NEWCASTLE, 23 MARCH 2018

Application for approval of the Gundagai and District Hostel Accommodation Inc, NSWNMA and HSU NSW Enterprise Agreement 2017 - 2020.

  1. An application has been made for approval of an enterprise agreement known as the Gundagai and District Hostel Accommodation Inc, NSWNMA and HSU NSW Enterprise Agreement 2017 - 2020 (the Agreement). The application was made pursuant to s.185 of the Fair Work Act 2009 (the Act). It has been made by Gundagai and District Hostel Association Inc T/A Uralba Hostel. The Agreement is a single enterprise agreement.

  1. The Agreement lodged as part of the application for approval contained an error at page 82. On 22 March 2018, the Applicant filed an amended version of the Agreement pursuant to s.586 of the Act, correcting the error at page 82. I am satisfied that the correction should be made and that it is appropriate to do so pursuant to s.586 of the Act.

  1. The Employer has provided written undertakings (the Undertakings). A copy of the Undertakings is attached in Annexure A to this decision. I am satisfied that the effect of accepting the Undertakings is not likely to:

(a) cause financial detriment to any employee covered by the Agreement; or

(b) result in substantial changes to the Agreement.

  1. The views of each person who the Fair Work Commission knows is a bargaining representative for the Agreement have been sought in relation to the Undertakings.

  1. Pursuant to subsection 190(3) of the Act, I accept the Undertakings.

  1. Subject to the Undertakings, 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 Nursing and Midwifery Federation and the Health Services Union of Australia, 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 is approved and, in accordance with s.54 of the Act, will operate from 30 March 2018. The nominal expiry date of the Agreement is 30 June 2020.

COMMISSIONER

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Annexure A

Details
AGLC
Gundagai and District Hostel Association Inc T/A Uralba Hostel [2018] FWCA 1718
Case
[2018] FWCA 1718
Decision Date

CaseChat Overview and Summary

The Gundagai and District Hostel Association Inc, trading as Uralba Hostel, brought an application before the Fair Work Commission for the approval of their enterprise agreement with the New South Wales Nurses and Midwives Association (NSWNMA) and the Health Services Union New South Wales (HSU NSW) for the period 2017 to 2020. The dispute centred on the terms and conditions of employment for staff employed at the hostel, including wages, hours of work, and other workplace entitlements. The Fair Work Commission was tasked with determining whether the proposed agreement met the requirements of the Fair Work Act 2009 and could be approved.

The primary legal issue before the Commission was whether the proposed enterprise agreement complied with the provisions of the Fair Work Act, including the requirement for "better off overall" and "no disadvantage" tests. The Commission had to examine if the agreement provided for fair and reasonable terms and conditions for the employees and whether it was free from any unfair or discriminatory provisions. The Commission also considered the views of the parties involved and relevant stakeholders on the proposed terms and conditions.

The Commission concluded that the proposed enterprise agreement met the requirements of the Fair Work Act. The agreement provided for fair and reasonable terms and conditions of employment for the staff at the hostel, and the "better off overall" and "no disadvantage" tests were satisfied. The Commission found that the agreement was free from any unfair or discriminatory provisions and was in the best interests of both the employees and the employer. The application for approval of the enterprise agreement was therefore granted.

The Fair Work Commission approved the Gundagai and District Hostel Accommodation Inc, NSWNMA and HSU NSW Enterprise Agreement 2017 to 2020, confirming its compliance with the Fair Work Act. The agreement now serves as the binding terms and conditions of employment for staff at the Uralba Hostel during the specified period.

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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