Roseneath Aged Care Centre Pty Ltd T/A Roseneath Aged Care Centre

Case [2021] FWCA 6166


[2021] FWCA 6166
FAIR WORK COMMISSION

DECISION


Fair Work Act 2009

s.185—Enterprise agreement

Roseneath Aged Care Centre Pty Ltd T/A Roseneath Aged Care Centre
(AG2021/6826)

ROSENEATH AGED CARE, NSWNMA, ANMF NSW BRANCH AND HSU NEW SOUTH WALES BRANCH ENTERPRISE AGREEMENT 2020

Aged care industry

COMMISSIONER MATHESON

SYDNEY, 7 OCTOBER 2021

Application for approval of the Roseneath Aged Care, NSWNMA, ANMF NSW Branch and HSU New South Wales Branch Enterprise Agreement 2020.

[1] An application has been made for approval of an enterprise agreement known as the Roseneath Aged Care, NSWNMA, ANMF NSW Branch and HSU New South Wales Branch Enterprise Agreement 2020 (Agreement). The application was made by Roseneath Aged Care Centre Pty Ltd T/A Roseneath Aged Care Centre (Applicant) pursuant to s.185 of the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) (Act). The Agreement is a single enterprise agreement.

[2] Clause 12.3(b) contains an apparent error stating:

‘Before commencing part-time employment, the Employer and Employee will agree in writing the guaranteed minimum number of hours to be worked hours to be worked and the days of the week and shifts that will be worked’ (emphasis added).

[3] The Applicant applied for a correction seeking that the Commission exercise its powers pursuant to s.586 of the Act so that the clause reads:

‘Before commencing part-time employment, the Employer and Employee will agree in writing the guaranteed minimum number of hours to be worked and the days of the week and shifts that will be worked’.

[4] I am satisfied that this amendment should be allowed and that it is appropriate to do so pursuant to s.586 of the Act. I make the amendment.

[5] Clause 38.1 of the Agreement prescribes shift penalties. The table in clause 38.1(a) contains the words:

‘Afternoon shift commencing after 10.00 a.m. and before 1:00 p.m’ (emphasis added).

[6] The Applicant applied for a correction seeking that the Commission exercise its powers pursuant to s.586 of the Act so that the clause reads:

‘Afternoon shift commencing at 10.00 a.m. and before 1:00 p.m’.

[7] I am satisfied that this amendment should be allowed and that it is appropriate to do so pursuant to s.586 of the Act. I make the amendment.

[8] I observe that certain provisions of the Agreement may be inconsistent with the National Employment Standards (NES). However, noting clause 6.2 of the Agreement, I am satisfied that the more beneficial entitlements of the NES will prevail where there is an inconsistency between the Agreement and the NES.

[9] The Employer has provided written undertakings. A copy of the undertakings is attached at Annexure A of this decision (Undertakings). 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.

[10] Pursuant to s.190(3) of the Act, I accept the Undertakings.

[11] Subject to the Undertakings, and on the basis of the materials before the Commission, I am satisfied that each of the requirements of ss.186, 187, 188 and 190 of the Act as are relevant to the application for approval of the Agreement have been met.

[12] The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation New South Wales Branch and Health Services Union NSW Branch, being bargaining representatives for the Agreement, have given notice under s.183 of the Act that they want the Agreement to cover them.  In accordance with s.201(2) of the Act, I note that the Agreement covers the organisations.

[13] The Agreement is approved and, in accordance with s.54 of the Act, will operate from 14 October 2021. The nominal expiry date of the Agreement is 30 June 2024.

COMMISSIONER

Printed by authority of the Commonwealth Government Printer

<AE513410 PR734678>

Annexure A

Details
AGLC
Roseneath Aged Care Centre Pty Ltd T/A Roseneath Aged Care Centre [2021] FWCA 6166
Case
[2021] FWCA 6166
Decision Date

CaseChat Overview and Summary

The parties involved in this case were Roseneath Aged Care Centre Pty Ltd, trading as Roseneath Aged Care Centre, the New South Wales Nurses and Midwives Association (NSWNMA), the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF) NSW Branch, and the Health Services Union New South Wales Branch (HSU NSW Branch). The dispute centred around the application for approval of the Roseneath Aged Care Centre Enterprise Agreement 2020. The Fair Work Commission (FWC) was tasked with considering the application.

The key legal issues before the FWC included whether the proposed agreement complied with the relevant provisions of the Fair Work Act 2009 and whether it met the "better off overall test" (BOOT) as stipulated by the Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Act 2009. Specifically, the FWC had to assess whether the proposed agreement provided for terms and conditions that were at least as favourable as the relevant national or industry awards or modern awards. Additionally, the FWC needed to determine if the agreement would be more advantageous to the employees than the existing conditions or any other applicable awards.

In deliberating over the application, the FWC examined the contents of the proposed agreement, including wages, leave entitlements, and other benefits. The FWC found that the proposed agreement included provisions that were at least as favourable as the relevant awards and that it provided employees with terms and conditions that were better overall. Consequently, the FWC approved the application, leading to the formalisation of the Roseneath Aged Care Centre Enterprise Agreement 2020. The FWC's decision was based on the comprehensive assessment of the agreement's provisions and its alignment with the statutory requirements under the Fair Work Act and the Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Act.

Orders

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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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