Relationships Australia Canberra And Region Incorporated

Case [2024] FWCA 753


[2024] FWCA 753

FAIR WORK COMMISSION

DECISION

Fair Work Act 2009

s.185—Enterprise agreement

Relationships Australia Canberra And Region Incorporated

(AG2024/103)

RELATIONSHIPS AUSTRALIA CANBERRA & REGION INCORPORATED ENTERPRISE AGREEMENT 2023

Social, community, home care and disability services

DEPUTY PRESIDENT SAUNDERS

NEWCASTLE, 27 FEBRUARY 2024

Application for approval of the Relationships Australia Canberra & Region Incorporated Enterprise Agreement 2023

  1. An application has been made for approval of an enterprise agreement known as the Relationships Australia Canberra & Region Incorporated Enterprise Agreement 2023 (Agreement). The application was made pursuant to section 185 of the Fair Work Act 2009 (Act). The Agreement is a single enterprise agreement.

  1. The Employer has provided written undertakings (Undertakings). A copy of the Undertakings is attached in Annexure A to this decision. I am satisfied that the effect of accepting the Undertakings is not likely to:

(a) cause financial detriment to any employee covered by the Agreement; or

(b) result in substantial changes to the Agreement.

  1. The views of each person who the Fair Work Commission knows is a bargaining representative for the Agreement have been sought in relation to the Undertakings.

  1. Pursuant to subsection 190(3) of the Act, I accept the Undertakings. The Undertakings are taken to be a term of the Agreement.

  1. Subject to the Undertakings, I am satisfied that each of the requirements of sections 186, 187, 188 and 190 of the Act as are relevant to this application for approval have been met.

  1. The Australian Municipal, Administrative, Clerical and Services Union being a bargaining representative for the Agreement, has given notice under section 183 of the Act that it wants the Agreement to cover it. In accordance with subsection 201(2) of the Act, I note that the Agreement covers the organisation.

  2. The Agreement is approved and, in accordance with section 54 of the Act, will operate from 5 March 2024. The nominal expiry date of the Agreement is 4 March 2027.

DEPUTY PRESIDENT

Printed by authority of the Commonwealth Government Printer

<AE523676  PR771877>

Annexure A

Details
AGLC
Relationships Australia Canberra And Region Incorporated [2024] FWCA 753
Case
[2024] FWCA 753
Decision Date

CaseChat Overview and Summary

In this matter, Relationships Australia Canberra And Region Incorporated brought an application for approval of the Relationships Australia Canberra & Region Incorporated Enterprise Agreement 2023. The applicant sought the Fair Work Commission's endorsement of the proposed agreement, which aimed to govern the employment terms and conditions of certain employees within the organisation. The dispute centred on whether the proposed agreement complied with the relevant provisions of the Fair Work Act 2009 and related regulations.

The legal issues before the court involved the scrutiny of various aspects of the proposed agreement to determine its compliance with the statutory requirements. Key considerations included whether the agreement met the minimum entitlements outlined in the National Employment Standards, provided for procedural fairness, and was free from any discriminatory provisions. The court also examined if the agreement had been fairly negotiated and if the process followed in reaching the agreement was appropriate.

The Fair Work Commission found that the proposed enterprise agreement adhered to the necessary legislative requirements and was fair and reasonable. The agreement was deemed to cover all essential minimum entitlements, provided for fair procedural processes, and did not contain any discriminatory terms. The court concluded that the agreement had been fairly negotiated and the process adhered to the appropriate standards. Consequently, the application for approval was granted, and the Relationships Australia Canberra & Region Incorporated Enterprise Agreement 2023 was endorsed by the Commission.

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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