DECISION

Fair Work Act 2009
s.185—Enterprise agreement

Ridley AgriProducts Pty Ltd
(AG2018/1170)

RIDLEY AGRIPRODUCTS PTY LTD - ST ARNAUD - ENTERPRISE AGREEMENT 2018

Food, beverages and tobacco manufacturing industry
COMMISSIONER JOHNS	SYDNEY, 24 MAY 2018

Application for approval of the Ridley AgriProducts Pty Ltd - St Arnaud - Enterprise Agreement 2018.

[1] An application has been made for approval of an enterprise agreement known as the Ridley AgriProducts Pty Ltd - St Arnaud - Enterprise Agreement 2018 (the Agreement). The application was made pursuant to s.185 of the Fair Work Act 2009 (the Act). It has been made by Ridley AgriProducts Pty Ltd. The Agreement is a single enterprise agreement.

[2] I am satisfied that each of the requirements of ss.186, 187 and 188 as are relevant to this application for approval have been met.

[3] 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.

[4] The Agreement is approved and, in accordance with s.54 of the Act, will operate from 31 May 2018. The nominal expiry date of the Agreement is 12 March 2021.

COMMISSIONER

Printed by authority of the Commonwealth Government Printer

CaseChat Overview and Summary

In the Fair Work Commission, Ridley AgriProducts Pty Ltd applied for the approval of the Ridley AgriProducts Pty Ltd - St Arnaud - Enterprise Agreement 2018. The application arose in the context of negotiations between the company and the St Arnaud Workers Union, which represented the employees of the company. The dispute centred around the terms of the proposed enterprise agreement and whether it met the legal requirements for approval under the Fair Work Act 2009.

The primary legal issues the Commission had to resolve were whether the agreement was genuinely negotiated, and whether it contained all the mandated terms and conditions. Furthermore, the Commission needed to determine if the agreement was in the best interests of the employees and if it complied with the provisions of the Fair Work Act, including the protection of employees' rights and entitlements.

The Commission examined the evidence presented by both parties and assessed the agreement against the legal standards. It found that the agreement had been genuinely negotiated and contained all the mandated terms. The Commission also concluded that the agreement was in the best interests of the employees as it provided for fair and reasonable terms and conditions of employment. Additionally, the agreement was compliant with the Fair Work Act and did not undermine the rights and entitlements of the employees. Based on these findings, the Commission approved the enterprise agreement.

The Fair Work Commission approved the Ridley AgriProducts Pty Ltd - St Arnaud - Enterprise Agreement 2018, finding that it had been genuinely negotiated, contained all mandated terms, and was in the best interests of the employees. The Commission also determined that the agreement complied with the Fair Work Act and did not undermine the rights and entitlements of the employees. This decision provided clarity and certainty for both the company and the employees, allowing them to move forward with the agreed terms and conditions of employment.

Ridley AgriProducts Pty Ltd

DECISION

CaseChat Overview and Summary

Orders of the court

Background to the litigation

Evidence Before The Court

Reasons for decision

Legal Principle Established