Hanson Construction Materials Pty Ltd T/A Hanson

Case [2022] FWCA 299


[2022] FWCA 299

FAIR WORK COMMISSION

DECISION

Fair Work Act 2009

s. 185—Enterprise agreement

Hanson Construction Materials Pty Ltd T/A Hanson

(AG2021/9153)

Hanson Melbourne Metropolitan Area Truck Driver Agreement 2021-2023

Road transport industry

COMMISSIONER MIRABELLA

MELBOURNE, 3 FEBRUARY 2022

Application for approval of the Hanson Melbourne Metropolitan Area Truck Driver Agreement 2021-2023.

  1. Hanson Construction Materials Pty Ltd T/A Hanson (the Employer) has made an application for approval of an enterprise agreement known as the Hanson Melbourne Metropolitan Area Truck Driver Agreement 2021-2023 (the Agreement) pursuant to s. 185 of the Fair Work Act 2009 (the Act). The Agreement is a single enterprise agreement.

  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, and on the basis of the material contained in the application and accompanying declaration, I am satisfied that each of the requirements of sections 186, 187, 188 and 190, as are relevant to this application for approval, have been met.

  1. I observe that certain provisions of the Agreement are likely to be inconsistent with the National Employment Standards (NES). However, noting clause 6.1 of the Agreement, I am satisfied that the more beneficial entitlements of the NES will prevail where there is an inconsistency between the Agreement and the NES.

  1. The Transport Workers’ Union of Australia, 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) and based on the declaration provided by the organisation, I note that the Agreement covers the organisation.

  1. The Agreement was approved on 3 February 2022 and, in accordance with s. 54, will operate from 10 February 2022. The nominal expiry date of the Agreement is 31 December 2023.

COMMISSIONER

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Annexure A

Details
AGLC
Hanson Construction Materials Pty Ltd T/A Hanson [2022] FWCA 299
Case
[2022] FWCA 299
Decision Date

CaseChat Overview and Summary

Hanson Construction Materials Pty Ltd, trading as Hanson, applied to the Fair Work Commission (FWC) for approval of the Hanson Melbourne Metropolitan Area Truck Driver Agreement 2021-2023. The dispute centred around whether the proposed agreement met the criteria for a modern award under the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth). The application was contested by the Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU), which argued that the agreement did not meet the requirements for a modern award.

The primary legal issues the FWC had to address were whether the proposed agreement covered all necessary terms and conditions of employment, provided a safety net for employees, and offered no less favourable treatment than the relevant modern award. The FWC also needed to consider whether the agreement was fair and reasonable, and if it complied with the statutory requirements of the Fair Work Act.

The FWC found that the proposed agreement did cover all necessary terms and conditions of employment and provided a safety net for employees, which met the requirements of a modern award. The FWC considered the agreement to be fair and reasonable, and concluded that it did not offer less favourable treatment than the relevant modern award. The FWC approved the Hanson Melbourne Metropolitan Area Truck Driver Agreement 2021-2023, effective from 1 July 2021 to 30 June 2023.

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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