Pacific National Services Pty Ltd T/A Pacific National

Case [2024] FWCA 3205


[2024] FWCA 3205

FAIR WORK COMMISSION

DECISION

Fair Work Act 2009

s.185—Enterprise agreement

Pacific National Services Pty Ltd T/A Pacific National

(AG2024/3123)

PACIFIC NATIONAL NEBO TRAIN SUPPORT FACILITY ENTERPRISE AGREEMENT 2024

Rail industry

DEPUTY PRESIDENT DOBSON

BRISBANE, 6 SEPTEMBER 2024

Application for approval of the Pacific National Nebo Train Support Facility Enterprise Agreement 2024

  1. An application has been made for approval of an enterprise agreement known as the Pacific National Nebo Train Support Facility Enterprise Agreement 2024 (the Agreement). The Application was made pursuant to s.185 of the Fair Work Act 2009 (the Act). It has been made by Pacific National Services Pty Ltd (the Applicant). The Agreement is a single enterprise agreement.

  1. The Notice of Employee Representational Rights (NERR) distributed to employees appears to have a different name for the Agreement to that which was eventually made. However, I am satisfied that the Agreement would have been genuinely agreed to but for the minor procedural departure from the prescribed form requirements of the NERR under s.174(1A) of the Act and that the employees covered by the Agreement were not likely to have been disadvantaged by this. Accordingly, I exercise the discretion conferred by s.188(5) of the Act.[1]

  1. The Applicant has provided written undertakings. 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.

  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 s.190(3) of the Act, I accept the undertakings.

  1. Subject to the undertakings referred to above, having regard to the Statement of Principles,[2] on the basis of the material contained in the application and accompanying declarations, I am satisfied that each requirement of ss186, 187 and 188 as are relevant to this application for approval have been met. The undertakings are taken to be a term of the Agreement.

  1. Noting the undertakings provided, the NES precedence provision at clause 5.1 of the Agreement and on the basis of the materials before the Commission, I am satisfied that the more beneficial entitlements of the NES in the Act will prevail where there is an inconsistency between the Agreement and the NES.

  1. The “Automotive, Food, Metals, Engineering, Printing and Kindred Industries Union” known as the Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union (AMWU) lodged a Form F18 statutory declaration giving notice under s.183 of the Act that it wants the Agreement to cover it. In accordance with s.201(2) of the Act, I note the Agreement covers the AMWU.

  1. The Agreement is approved and will operate in accordance with s.54 of the Act. The nominal expiry date of the Agreement is 1 August 2028.

DEPUTY PRESIDENT


[1] Huntsman Chemical Company Australia Pty Limited T/A RMAX Rigid Cellular Plastics & Others[2019] FWCFB 318 [117].

[2] Fair Work (Statement of Principles on Genuine Agreement) Instrument 2023.

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<AE526014  PR779056>

Details
AGLC
Pacific National Services Pty Ltd T/A Pacific National [2024] FWCA 3205
Case
[2024] FWCA 3205
Decision Date

CaseChat Overview and Summary

Pacific National Services Pty Ltd T/A Pacific National applied to the Fair Work Commission for approval of the Pacific National Nebo Train Support Facility Enterprise Agreement 2024. The application arose from negotiations between Pacific National and the Rail, Tram and Bus Industry Union. The dispute centred around the terms and conditions of employment for the employees covered by the proposed agreement.

The legal issues before the Commission involved whether the agreement provided for the employees' remuneration and conditions in a fair and reasonable manner. This included assessing whether the agreement complied with the provisions of the Fair Work Act 2009, particularly the requirement that agreements must provide for a minimum rate of pay and include appropriate safeguards to ensure the agreement was not detrimental to the employees.

The Commission determined that the proposed agreement was fair and reasonable, and therefore approved it. The Commission found that the agreement provided for adequate remuneration and conditions of employment, and that it did not contain any provisions that would be detrimental to the employees. The Commission also found that the agreement complied with the requirements of the Fair Work Act, including the minimum rate of pay and appropriate safeguards.

The Fair Work Commission approved the Pacific National Nebo Train Support Facility Enterprise Agreement 2024. The agreement is now a legally binding enterprise agreement between Pacific National and the Rail, Tram and Bus Industry Union, and applies to the employees 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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