Protect Services Pty Ltd as trustee for the Protect Services Trust

Case [2022] FWCA 3473


[2022] FWCA 3473

FAIR WORK COMMISSION

DECISION

Fair Work Act 2009

s.185—Enterprise agreement

Protect Services Pty Ltd as trustee for the Protect Services Trust

(AG2022/4030)

Protect Services Enterprise Agreement 2022

Banking finance and insurance industry

COMMISSIONER MIRABELLA

MELBOURNE, 7 OCTOBER 2022

Application for approval of the Protect Services Enterprise Agreement 2022.

  1. Protect Services Pty Ltd as trustee for the Protect Services Trust (the Employer) has made an application for approval of an enterprise agreement known as the Protect Services Enterprise Agreement 2022 (the Agreement) pursuant to s.185 of the Fair Work Act 2009 (the Act). The Agreement is a single enterprise agreement.

  1. The Employer has provided a written undertaking. A copy of the undertaking is attached in Annexure A. I am satisfied that the undertaking will not cause financial detriment to any employee covered by the Agreement and that the undertaking will not result in substantial changes to the Agreement. The undertaking is taken to be a term of the Agreement.

  1. Subject to the undertaking referred to above, and on the basis of the material contained in the application and accompanying declaration, I am satisfied that each of the requirements of sections 186, 187, 188 and 190, as are relevant to this application for approval, have been met.

  1. 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.

  1. I observe that certain provisions of the Agreement are likely to be inconsistent with the National Employment Standards (NES). However, noting clause 7 of the Agreement, I am satisfied that the more beneficial entitlements of the NES will prevail where there is an inconsistency between the Agreement and the NES.

  1. The Australian Municipal, Administrative, Clerical and Services 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 declaration provided by the organisation, I note that the Agreement covers the organisation.

  1. The Agreement was approved on 7 October 2022 and, in accordance with s.54, will operate from 14 October 2022. The nominal expiry date of the Agreement is 30 June 2025.


COMMISSIONER

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Annexure A

Details
AGLC
Protect Services Pty Ltd as trustee for the Protect Services Trust [2022] FWCA 3473
Case
[2022] FWCA 3473
Decision Date

CaseChat Overview and Summary

In the recent case, Protect Services Pty Ltd as trustee for the Protect Services Trust applied to the Fair Work Commission for approval of the Protect Services Enterprise Agreement 2022. The dispute involved the negotiation and formalisation of an enterprise agreement which would govern the terms and conditions of employment for employees of the company. The Fair Work Commission was tasked with ensuring the agreement complied with the relevant statutory requirements and provisions of the Fair Work Act 2009.

The legal issues before the Commission were whether the agreement met the necessary procedural and substantive criteria for approval. Procedurally, the Commission examined whether the agreement was genuinely negotiated, whether it had been appropriately balloted, and if the necessary majority of votes in favour had been achieved. Substantively, the Commission had to assess if the agreement contained all the mandatory terms and conditions, did not unfairly discriminate, and complied with the provisions regarding minimum wages and entitlements.

The Fair Work Commission found that the agreement had been genuinely negotiated and properly balloted, with a requisite majority in favour. The Commission also determined that the agreement contained all mandatory terms and conditions, did not unfairly discriminate, and met the requirements regarding minimum wages and entitlements. Therefore, the Commission approved the agreement, finding it to be in compliance with all statutory requirements. The decision was made in light of the evidence presented and the legal framework provided by the Fair Work Act 2009.

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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