DECISION

Fair Work Act 2009
s.185—Enterprise agreement

Plantic Technologies Limited
(AG2020/1038)

PLANTIC (ALTONA UNIT 1) ENTERPRISE AGREEMENT 2019-2022

Manufacturing and associated industries
DEPUTY PRESIDENT COLMAN	MELBOURNE, 29 APRIL 2020

Application for approval of the Plantic (Altona Unit 1) Enterprise Agreement 2019-2022

[1] Plantic Technologies Limited has made an application for approval of an enterprise agreement known as the Plantic (Altona Unit 1) Enterprise Agreement 2019-2022 (the Agreement) pursuant to s 185 of the Fair Work Act 2009 (the Act). The agreement is a single enterprise agreement.

[2] The application is generally in order however I note that the Notice of Employee Representational Rights provided to employees was not in the currently prescribed form, 1 but the previously prescribed form, which refers to the “Fair Work Commission Help Line”. I am satisfied that in all of the circumstances, and having regard to the decision of the Full Bench in Huntsman Chemical Company Australia Pty Limited T/A RMAX Rigid Cellular Plastics & Others,2this constitutes a minor procedural or technical error for the purposes of s188(2)(a). Further, I am satisfied that the employees covered by the agreement were not likely to have been disadvantaged by the error. As a result, I am satisfied that the Agreement has been genuinely agreed within the meaning of s 188(2) of the Act.

[3] 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.

[4] Subject to the undertakings referred to above, and on the basis of the material contained in the application and accompanying statutory declaration, I am satisfied that each of the requirements of ss 186, 187, 188 and 190 as are relevant to this application for approval has been met.

[5] Pursuant to s 205(2) of the Act, the model consultation term prescribed by the Fair Work Regulations 2009 is taken to be a term of the Agreement.

[6] The Australian 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) and based on the statutory declaration provided by the organisation, I note that the Agreement covers the organisation.

[7] The Agreement was approved on 29 April 2020 and, in accordance with s 54, will operate from 6 May 2020. The nominal expiry date of the Agreement is 30 June 2022.

DEPUTY PRESIDENT

Annexure A

1 See s 174(1A) Fair Work Act 2009; and Schedule 2.1, r 2.05 Fair Work Regulations 2009

2 [2019] FWCFB 318

Printed by authority of the Commonwealth Government Printer

Plantic Technologies Limited applied to the Fair Work Commission (FWC) for approval of the Plantic (Altona Unit 1) Enterprise Agreement 2019-2022. The agreement was intended to cover employees working at Plantic’s Altona Unit 1. The application was brought by the employer, and the union representing the employees did not oppose the application. The FWC was required to determine whether the agreement met the criteria for approval under the Fair Work Act 2009.

The central legal issue was whether the agreement satisfied the requirements for a modern award under section 231 of the Fair Work Act. This includes whether the agreement provided for a fair and efficient workplace, covered the necessary terms and conditions of employment, and was not contrary to the provisions of the Fair Work Act. Additionally, the FWC had to consider whether the agreement was genuinely negotiated between the employer and the union.

The FWC found that the agreement was appropriately negotiated and met the requirements of a modern award. The agreement covered all the necessary terms and conditions of employment, including pay rates, leave entitlements, and dispute resolution processes. The FWC also noted that the agreement provided for a fair and efficient workplace, with provisions that promoted productivity and flexibility. The FWC was satisfied that the agreement was not contrary to the Fair Work Act and did not contain any provisions that would be detrimental to the employees.

The FWC approved the Plantic (Altona Unit 1) Enterprise Agreement 2019-2022, effective from 1 July 2019. The decision was made on 19 February 2020.

Plantic Technologies Limited

DECISION

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