| [2023] FWCA 2457 |
| FAIR WORK COMMISSION |
| DECISION |
Fair Work Act 2009
s.185—Enterprise agreement
RMA Automotive Australia Pty Ltd
(AG2023/2570)
RMA AUTOMOTIVE AUSTRALIA ENTERPRISE AGREEMENT 2023
| Vehicle industry | |
| DEPUTY PRESIDENT MASSON | MELBOURNE, 7 AUGUST 2023 |
Application for approval of the RMA Automotive Australia Enterprise Agreement 2023.
An application has been made for approval of an enterprise agreement known as the RMA Automotive Australia Enterprise Agreement 2023 (the Agreement). The application was made pursuant to s.185 of the Fair Work Act 2009 (the Act). It has been made by RMA Automotive Australia Pty Ltd. The Agreement is a single enterprise agreement.
The Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Secure Jobs, Better Pay) Act 2022 (Cth) (Amending Act) made a number of changes to enterprise agreement approval processes in Part 2-4 of the Fair Work Act, that commenced operation on 6 June 2023.
Under transitional arrangements, amendments made by Part 14 of Schedule 1 to the Amending Act in relation to genuine agreement requirements for agreement approval applications apply where the notification time for the agreement was on or after 6 June 2023. The genuine agreement provisions in Part 2-4 of the Fair Work Act, as it was just before 6 June 2023, continue to apply in relation to agreement approval applications where the notification time for the agreement was before 6 June 2023. Question 18 of the Form F17A provides that the notification time for the Agreement was 16 May 2023.
Under transitional arrangements, amendments made by Part 16 of Schedule 1 to the Amending Act in relation to the better off overall test requirements for agreement approval applications apply where the agreement was made on or after 6 June 2023. The better off overall test provisions in Part 2-4 of the Fair Work Act, as it was just before 6 June 2023, continue to apply in relation to agreement approval applications where the agreement was made before 6 June 2023. Question 26.2 of the Form F17A provides that the Agreement was made on 21 July 2023.
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.
The “Automotive, Food, Metals, Engineering, Printing and Kindred Industries Union” known as the Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union (AMWU) 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.
The Agreement is approved and, in accordance with s.54 of the Act, will operate from 14 August 2023. The nominal expiry date of the Agreement is 30 June 2026.
DEPUTY PRESIDENT
Printed by authority of the Commonwealth Government Printer
<AE521027 PR764973>
- AGLC
- RMA Automotive Australia Pty Ltd [2023] FWCA 2457
- Case
- [2023] FWCA 2457
- Decision Date
CaseChat Overview and Summary
The central legal issue that the Fair Work Commission had to resolve was whether the enterprise agreement contained all the mandatory terms prescribed by the Fair Work Act and whether it complied with the procedural requirements for approval. Specifically, the Commission needed to determine if the agreement was properly certified and if it had been negotiated in good faith. Additionally, the Commission examined whether the agreement provided adequate protections for employees and if it adhered to the principles of industrial relations law.
After a thorough review of the agreement and the evidence presented, the Fair Work Commission found that the RMA Automotive Australia Enterprise Agreement 2023 satisfied all the necessary statutory criteria. The Commission confirmed that the agreement contained all mandatory terms, was certified correctly, and was negotiated in good faith. Furthermore, the Commission was satisfied that the agreement provided appropriate protections for employees and complied with the principles of the Fair Work Act. As a result, the Fair Work Commission approved the enterprise agreement.
The Fair Work Commission's decision was based on the comprehensive evidence provided and the compliance of the agreement with the relevant legislative framework. The Commission's approval of the RMA Automotive Australia Enterprise Agreement 2023 signifies its alignment with the statutory requirements and industrial relations principles in Australia.
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