Methodist Ladies' College Limited

[2025] FWCA 529

[2025] FWCA 529

FAIR WORK COMMISSION

DECISION

Fair Work Act 2009

s.185 - Application for approval of a single-enterprise agreement

Methodist Ladies' College Limited

(AG2024/4978)

METHODIST LADIES’ COLLEGE (TEACHERS AND TECHNICIANS) AGREEMENT 2025

Educational services
COMMISSIONER WILSON	MELBOURNE, 10 FEBRUARY 2025

Application for approval of the Methodist Ladies’ College (Teachers and Technicians) Agreement 2025

1. An application has been made for approval of an enterprise agreement known as the Methodist Ladies’ College (Teachers and Technicians) Agreement 2025 (the Agreement). The application was made pursuant to s.185 of the Fair Work Act 2009 (the Act). It has been made by Methodist Ladies' College Limited. The Agreement is a single enterprise agreement.

1. The notification time for the Agreement under s.173(2) was 20 June 2024 and the Agreement was made on 9 December 2024. Accordingly, both the genuine agreement and the better off overall test requirements are those applying on and from 6 June 2023.[1]

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, I am satisfied that each of the requirements of ss.186, 187, 188, 193 and 193A 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 sections 186(3) and (3A), I am satisfied that the group of employees was fairly chosen.

1. The Independent Education Union of Australia (Victoria Tasmania Branch), 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) I note that the Agreement covers the organisation.

1. The Agreement is approved and, in accordance with s.54 of the Act, will operate from 17 February 2025. The nominal expiry date of the Agreement is 31 December 2028.

COMMISSIONER

Annexure A

[1] The Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Secure Jobs, Better Pay) Act 2022 (Cth) made a number of changes to enterprise agreement approval processes in Part 2-4 of the Fair Work Act. Those changes broadly commenced operation on 6 June 2023, subject to various transitional arrangements which are not applicable to the present application.

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