News Limited - Nationwide News T/A Nationwidenews Pty Ltd

Case [2013] FWCA 8111


[2013] FWCA 8111

FAIR WORK COMMISSION

DECISION


Fair Work Act 2009

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

News Limited - Nationwide News T/A Nationwidenews Pty Ltd
(AG2013/9745)

NEWS LIMITED NEWSPAPERS - MEAA TRANSITIONAL ENTERPRISE AGREEMENT 2013

Publishing industry

COMMISSIONER CAMBRIDGE

SYDNEY, 16 OCTOBER 2013

Application for approval of the News Limited Newspapers-MEAA Transitional Enterprise Agreement 2013.

[1] An application has been made for approval of an enterprise agreement known as the News Limited Newspapers - MEAA Transitional Enterprise Agreement 2013 (the Agreement). The application was made pursuant to s.185 of the Fair Work Act 2009 (the Act). It has been made by Nationwide News Pty Limited and tenother related corporations, (the Employers). The Agreement is a single-enterprise agreement.

[2] The application was lodged at Sydney on 10 October 2013. The application included a Statutory Declaration of Daryl Makins made on behalf of the Employers and dated 10 October 2013, (the Declaration). The Declaration stated that the Agreement was made on 30 September 2013. Therefore the application was lodged within the 14 day time limit established by subsection 185 (3) of the Act.

[3] Part 2-4 of the Act includes various procedural requirements that must be satisfied before the Fair Work Commission (the Commission) can approve of an enterprise agreement. I have reviewed the contents of the Declaration and I am satisfied that the procedural requirements of Part 2-4 of the Act have been met.

[4] The application for approval was listed for Hearing in Chambers before the Commission on 16 October 2013. I note that the file has included a Statutory Declaration of Paul Murphy made on behalf of the Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA), as an employee organisation in relation to the application.

[5] I note that the Agreement contains a flexibility term at clause 38 and a consultation term at clause 37.

[6] I am satisfied that each of the requirements of ss.186, 187 and 188 of the Act as are relevant to this application for approval have been met.

[7] The MEAA, being a bargaining representative for the Agreement, has given notice under s.183 of the Act that it wants the Agreement to cover it. As required by subsection 201 (2) of the Act I note that the Agreement covers the MEAA.

[8] The Agreement is approved. In accordance with subsection 54 (1) of the Act it will operate from 23 October 2013. The nominal expiry date of the Agreement as specified in clause 43 of the Agreement, is 30 June 2014.

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Details
AGLC
News Limited - Nationwide News T/A Nationwidenews Pty Ltd [2013] FWCA 8111
Case
[2013] FWCA 8111
Decision Date

CaseChat Overview and Summary

The case before the Fair Work Commission was between News Limited, also trading as Nationwide News, and the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA). The dispute concerned the application for approval of the News Limited Newspapers-MEAA Transitional Enterprise Agreement 2013. The Commission was tasked with determining whether the agreement should be approved under the Fair Work Act 2009.

The central legal issue was whether the agreement met the requirements of section 231 of the Fair Work Act, specifically whether the agreement had been fairly negotiated and covered the necessary minimum terms and conditions of employment. The Commission also had to consider whether the agreement complied with the 'better off overall' test, ensuring that employees would not be worse off financially compared to their previous conditions.

The Fair Work Commission found that the agreement had been fairly negotiated and contained all the necessary minimum terms and conditions. The Commission also determined that the agreement satisfied the 'better off overall' test, as it provided employees with improved working conditions, despite some financial concessions. The Commission approved the agreement, noting the need for transitional arrangements in light of significant changes in the industry.

The final orders of the Commission included the approval of the News Limited Newspapers-MEAA Transitional Enterprise Agreement 2013, with the agreement to be registered and effective from the specified date. The decision underscored the importance of fair negotiation and compliance with statutory requirements in enterprise agreements.

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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