PFD Food Services Pty Ltd

[2019] FWCA 7941

[2019] FWCA 7941

FAIR WORK COMMISSION

DECISION

Fair Work Act 2009
s.185—Enterprise agreement

PFD Food Services Pty Ltd
(AG2019/4141)

PFD FRESH TO GO (VICTORIAN PRODUCTION/WAREHOUSE) ENTERPRISE AGREEMENT 2019

Food, beverages and tobacco manufacturing industry
COMMISSIONER HARPER-GREENWELL	MELBOURNE, 21 NOVEMBER 2019

Application for approval of the PFD Fresh To Go (Victorian Production/Warehouse) Enterprise Agreement 2019.

[1] An application has been made for approval of an enterprise agreement known as the PFD Fresh To Go (Victorian Production/Warehouse) Enterprise Agreement 2019 (the Agreement). The application was made pursuant to s.185 of the Fair Work Act 2009 (the Act). It has been made by PFD Food Services Pty Ltd. The Agreement is a single enterprise agreement.

[2] 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. Pursuant to s.201(3), the undertakings are taken to be a term of the Agreement.

[3] Subject to the undertakings referred to above, I am satisfied that each of the requirements of ss.186, 187, 188 and 190 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 Section 186(3) and (3A) I am satisfied that the group of employees was fairly chosen.

[4] The Agreement lodged contained some cross-referencing errors. On 18 November 2019, the Applicant filed an amended version of the Agreement correcting these errors. I am satisfied that the corrections should be made and that it is appropriate to do so pursuant to s.586 of the Act.

[5] I observe that clause 6.3(c) of the Agreement is likely to be inconsistent with the National Employment Standards (NES). However, noting clause 1.9 of the Agreement, I am satisfied the more beneficial entitlements of the NES will prevail where there is an inconsistency between the Agreement and the NES.

[6] The United Workers’ Union 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.

[7] The Agreement was approved on 21 November 2019 and, in accordance with s.54, will operate from 28 November 2019. The nominal expiry date of the Agreement is 30 June 2022.

COMMISSIONER

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Annexure A