Rockpool Rac Pty Ltd

Case [2023] FWCA 2440


[2023] FWCA 2440

FAIR WORK COMMISSION

DECISION

Fair Work Act 2009

s.185—Enterprise agreement

Rockpool Rac Pty Ltd

(AG2023/2417)

ROCKPOOL RAC PTY LTD ENTERPRISE AGREEMENT 2023        

Aged care industry

DEPUTY PRESIDENT SAUNDERS

NEWCASTLE, 4 AUGUST 2023

Application for approval of the Rockpool RAC Pty Ltd Enterprise Agreement 2023

  1. An application has been made for approval of an enterprise agreement known as the Rockpool RAC Pty Ltd 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 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 Act, that commenced operation on 6 June 2023.

  1. 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 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. The notification time for the Agreement was before 6 June 2023.

  1. 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 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. The Agreement was made on 6 July 2023.

  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 Agreement is approved and, in accordance with section 54 of the Act, will operate from 11 August 2023. The nominal expiry date of the Agreement is 3 August 2027.

DEPUTY PRESIDENT

Printed by authority of the Commonwealth Government Printer

<AE521011  PR764920>

Annexure A

Details
AGLC
Rockpool Rac Pty Ltd [2023] FWCA 2440
Case
[2023] FWCA 2440
Decision Date

CaseChat Overview and Summary

The case before the Fair Work Commission involved an application by Rockpool RAC Pty Ltd for the approval of the Rockpool RAC Pty Ltd Enterprise Agreement 2023. The dispute centered around the fairness and compliance of the proposed agreement with the Fair Work Act 2009. The applicant, Rockpool RAC Pty Ltd, sought to have the agreement certified as meeting the requirements of the Act.

The key legal issues the Commission needed to address were whether the agreement contained all the mandatory terms prescribed by the Fair Work Act, whether it had been negotiated in good faith, and whether it was free from any unfair content. The Commission also had to consider whether the agreement provided for a fair and efficient workplace, taking into account the interests of both the employer and the employees.

The Fair Work Commission found that the agreement contained all the mandatory terms required by the Fair Work Act. The Commission also determined that the agreement had been negotiated in good faith, and it did not contain any unfair content. The proposed agreement was deemed to provide for a fair and efficient workplace, balancing the interests of both the employer and the employees. Based on these findings, the Commission approved the Rockpool RAC Pty Ltd Enterprise Agreement 2023.

Consequently, the Fair Work Commission certified the agreement, allowing it to take effect from the specified commencement date. This decision provided clarity and legal certainty for both Rockpool RAC Pty Ltd and its employees regarding the terms and conditions of their employment under the new agreement.

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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