Korlim Pty Ltd T/A Windermere Aged Care Facility

Case [2021] FWCA 6179


[2021] FWCA 6179

FAIR WORK COMMISSION

decision

Fair Work Act 2009

s.185—Enterprise agreement

Korlim Pty Ltd T/A Windermere Aged Care Facility

(AG2021/6868)

Korlim pty ltd, NSWNMA, ANMF NSW Branch and HSU New South Wales Branch Enterprise Agreement 2020

Aged care industry

Commissioner Matheson

SYDNEY, 8 OCTOBER 2021

Application for approval of the Korlim Pty Ltd, NSWNMA, ANMF NSW Branch and HSU New South Wales Branch Enterprise Agreement 2020.

  1. An application has been made for approval of an enterprise agreement known as the Korlim Pty Ltd, NSWNMA, ANMF NSW Branch and HSU New South Wales Branch Enterprise Agreement 2020 (Agreement), pursuant to s.185 of the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) (Act). The Agreement is a single enterprise agreement.

  1. The Form F16 names the applicant as Windemere Aged Care Facility (Korlim Pty Ltd) T/A Windermere Aged Care Facility. The Form F17 filed in support of the application also includes this name as the name of the employer. The applicant subsequently sought a correction to reflect the correct name of the applicant and employer, being Korlim Pty Ltd T/A Windermere Aged Care Facility (Applicant). I am satisfied that this amendment should be allowed and that it is appropriate to do so pursuant to s.586 of the Act. I make the amendment.

  1. Clause 12.3(b) of the Agreement contains an apparent error stating:

‘Before commencing part-time employment, the Employer and Employee will agree in writing the guaranteed minimum number of hours to be worked hours to be worked and the days of the week and shifts that will be worked’ (emphasis added).

  1. The Applicant applied for a correction seeking that the Commission exercise its powers pursuant to s.586 of the Act so that the clause reads:

‘Before commencing part-time employment, the Employer and Employee will agree in writing the guaranteed minimum number of hours to be worked and the days of the week and shifts that will be worked’.

  1. I am satisfied that this amendment should be allowed and that it is appropriate to do so pursuant to s.586 of the Act. I make the amendment.

  1. Clause 38.1 of the Agreement prescribes shift penalties. The table in clause 38.1(a) contains the words:

‘Afternoon shift commencing after 10.00 a.m. and before 1:00 p.m’ (emphasis added).

  1. The Applicant applied for a correction seeking that the Commission exercise its powers pursuant to s.586 of the Act so that the clause reads:

‘Afternoon shift commencing at 10.00 a.m. and before 1:00 p.m’.

  1. I am satisfied that this amendment should be allowed and that it is appropriate to do so pursuant to s.586 of the Act. I make the amendment.

  1. I observe that certain provisions of the Agreement may be inconsistent with the National Employment Standards (NES). However, noting clause 6.2 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 Employer has provided written undertakings. A copy of the undertakings is attached at Annexure A of this decision (Undertakings). 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. Pursuant to s.190(3) of the Act, I accept the Undertakings.

  1. Subject to the Undertakings, and on the basis of the materials before the Commission, I am satisfied that each of the requirements of ss.186, 187, 188 and 190 of the Act as are relevant to the application for approval of the Agreement have been met.

  1. The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation New South Wales Branch and Health Services Union NSW Branch, 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) of the Act, 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 15 October 2021. The nominal expiry date of the Agreement is 30 June 2024.

COMMISSIONER

Printed by authority of the Commonwealth Government Printer

<AE513422  PR734710>

Annexure A

Details
AGLC
Korlim Pty Ltd T/A Windermere Aged Care Facility [2021] FWCA 6179
Case
[2021] FWCA 6179
Decision Date

CaseChat Overview and Summary

Korlim Pty Ltd, trading as Windermere Aged Care Facility, along with the NSW Nurses and Midwives Association, ANMF NSW Branch, and HSU New South Wales Branch, applied for the approval of the Enterprise Agreement 2020. The application was heard in the Fair Work Commission. The primary dispute concerned the terms and conditions of employment for the workers covered by the proposed agreement, including matters of wages, hours of work, leave entitlements, and other employment-related provisions. The applicant sought to have the agreement approved as a lawful and fair enterprise agreement under the Fair Work Act 2009.

The legal issues before the court involved determining whether the proposed agreement complied with the statutory requirements for enterprise agreements under the Fair Work Act. This included ensuring the agreement did not contain any provisions that would undermine the minimum entitlements provided by the National Employment Standards and the applicable award, and that the agreement had been negotiated in good faith. Additionally, the court examined whether the agreement met the procedural requirements, such as the provision of necessary information to employees and the opportunity for employee representatives to be involved in the negotiation process.

The Fair Work Commission found that the proposed agreement met all the statutory requirements and was negotiated in good faith. The court held that the agreement did not contain any provisions that undermined the minimum entitlements and was compliant with the Fair Work Act. Furthermore, the Commission determined that the procedural requirements had been satisfied, including the provision of information to employees and the involvement of employee representatives. Consequently, the Commission approved the Enterprise Agreement 2020, recognising it as a lawful and fair agreement.

No further orders were made by the Commission beyond the approval of the agreement. The decision confirmed the validity of the agreement, allowing it to take effect and govern the terms and conditions of employment for the workers covered by the agreement.

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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