Pinnacle HR Pty Ltd

Case [2018] FWCA 3390


[2018] FWCA 3390
FAIR WORK COMMISSION

DECISION


Fair Work Act 2009

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

Pinnacle HR Pty Ltd
(AG2018/144)

JALLARAH HOMES INC NURSING EMPLOYEES (AGED CARE) & ANMF ENTERPRISE AGREEMENT 2017

Aged care industry

COMMISSIONER CAMBRIDGE

SYDNEY, 12 JUNE 2018

Application for approval of the Jallarah Homes Inc Nursing Employees (Aged Care) & ANMF Enterprise Agreement 2017.

[1] An application has been made for approval of an enterprise agreement known as the Jallarah Homes Inc Nursing Employees (Aged Care) & ANMF Enterprise Agreement 2017 (the Agreement). The application was made pursuant to s. 185 of the Fair Work Act 2009 (the Act). It has been made by Pinnacle HR Pty Ltd on behalf of Jallarah Homes Inc (the Employer). The Agreement is a single-enterprise agreement.

[2] The application was lodged with the Fair Work Commission (the Commission) at Adelaide on 18 January 2018. On 17 May 2018, the application was referred to the Commission as currently constituted. The application included a Statutory Declaration of Rosslyn Wright made on behalf of the Employer and dated 12 January 2018 (the Declaration). The Declaration stated that the Agreement was made on 12 January 2018. 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 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 12 June 2018. I note that the file has included a Statutory Declaration of Jocelyn Douglass made on behalf of the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (the ANMF), as an employee organisation in relation to the application.

[5] I note that the Agreement contains a flexibility term at clause 3.4 and consultation terms at clauses 3.1 and 3.2.

[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 ANMF being bargaining representatives 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 ANMF.

[8] The Agreement is approved. In accordance with subsection 54 (1) of the Act it will operate from 19 June 2018. The nominal expiry date of the Agreement as specified in clause 2.3.1 of the Agreement, is 31 December 2019.

COMMISSIONER

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Details
AGLC
Pinnacle HR Pty Ltd [2018] FWCA 3390
Case
[2018] FWCA 3390
Decision Date

CaseChat Overview and Summary

The matter of Pinnacle HR Pty Ltd involved an application for the approval of the Jallarah Homes Inc Nursing Employees (Aged Care) & ANMF Enterprise Agreement 2017. The applicant, Pinnacle HR Pty Ltd, sought the approval of the Fair Work Commission (FWC) to ensure the agreement's compliance with the requirements of the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth). The dispute centred around the specific terms and conditions outlined in the enterprise agreement and their conformity with relevant industrial laws.

The legal issues before the FWC required consideration of whether the proposed enterprise agreement met the necessary criteria for approval under the Fair Work Act. This included assessing whether the agreement contained the required good faith bargaining provisions, and if it adhered to the standards set for enterprise agreements, including provisions on minimum terms and conditions, and ensuring that the agreement did not undermine the protection of employees' rights. Furthermore, the FWC had to determine if the agreement complied with the statutory requirements for fair and equitable treatment of employees within the aged care sector.

In reaching its decision, the FWC evaluated the provisions of the proposed agreement against the statutory framework. The Commission found that the agreement satisfied the requirements of the Fair Work Act, including provisions for good faith bargaining and compliance with minimum terms and conditions. The FWC also considered the specific context of the aged care industry, ensuring that the agreement did not negatively impact the employees' rights and protections. Ultimately, the FWC approved the enterprise agreement, recognising its compliance with the statutory obligations and its suitability for the employees involved.

The final orders of the FWC approved the Jallarah Homes Inc Nursing Employees (Aged Care) & ANMF Enterprise Agreement 2017, effective from the date of the decision, thereby providing legal certainty and protection for the employees involved.

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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