| [2019] FWCA 6136 |
| FAIR WORK COMMISSION |
DECISION |
Fair Work Act 2009
s.185—Enterprise agreement
Qenos Pty Ltd T/A Qenos
(AG2019/2935)
QENOS ALTONA (OLEFINS) & NUW ENTERPRISE AGREEMENT 2018
Manufacturing and associated industries | |
COMMISSIONER LEE | MELBOURNE, 4 SEPTEMBER 2019 |
Application for approval of the Qenos Altona (Olefins) & NUW Enterprise Agreement 2018.
[1] An application has been made for approval of an enterprise agreement known as the Qenos Altona (Olefins) & NUW Enterprise Agreement 2018 (the Agreement). The application was made pursuant to s.185 of the Fair Work Act 2009 (the Act). 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. 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 undertakings are taken to be a term of the agreement.
[4] I note that the following clauses are inconsistent with the National Employment Standards (NES):
• Clause 7.2.1 – Public Holiday Entitlement;
• Clause 7.2.4 – Absence before or after a Public Holiday;
• Clause 7.3.4 – Annual Leave Entitlement - Shift workers;
• Clause 7.4 – Sick Leave;
• Clause 7.5.1 – Death in the Immediate Family; and
• Clause 7.5.2 – Personal/ Carer’s Leave.
Given the National Employment Standards precedence clause at clause 1.8 of the Agreement, I am satisfied that the more beneficial entitlements of the NES will prevail.
[5] The National Union of Workers 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.
[6] The Agreement is approved and, in accordance with s.54 of the Act, will operate from 11 September 2019. The nominal expiry date of the Agreement is 30 June 2022.
COMMISSIONER
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Annexure A
- AGLC
- Qenos Pty Ltd T/A Qenos [2019] FWCA 6136
- Case
- [2019] FWCA 6136
- Decision Date
CaseChat Overview and Summary
The legal issues before the commission included whether the agreement sufficiently provided for the terms and conditions of employment, including minimum wages, leave entitlements, and other employment-related matters. Additionally, the court needed to ascertain if the agreement was free from any unfair terms and if it allowed for the protection of employees' rights in line with the provisions of the Fair Work Act. The commission also had to consider the extent to which the agreement provided for proper consultation processes and whether it adhered to the requirements for fair and reasonable enterprise agreements.
In delivering its decision, the commission carefully examined the provisions of the proposed agreement against the statutory framework. The commission found that the agreement met the necessary standards set by the Fair Work Act. The agreement was deemed to provide for the required terms and conditions of employment, ensuring that the employees were adequately protected and compensated. Furthermore, the commission concluded that the agreement did not contain any unfair terms and that it allowed for the proper protection of employees' rights. The agreement also complied with the requirements for consultation processes. Consequently, the commission approved the Qenos Altona (Olefins) & NUW Enterprise Agreement 2018.
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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