SJ & TA Structural Pty Ltd

[2019] FWCA 3326

[2019] FWCA 3326

FAIR WORK COMMISSION

DECISION

Fair Work Act 2009
s.222 - Application for approval of a termination of an enterprise agreement

SJ & TA Structural Pty Ltd
(AG2019/957)

THE TRUSTEE FOR SJ & TA PHILLIPS FAMILY TRUST T/A SJ & TA STRUCTURAL PTY LTD AND THE CFMEU RIVERINA AND MURRAY REGIONAL AGREEMENT 2011-2015

Building, metal and civil construction industries
DEPUTY PRESIDENT GOSTENCNIK	MELBOURNE, 20 MAY 2019

Application for termination of The Trustee for SJ & TA Phillips Family Trust t/a SJ & TA Structural Pty Ltd and the CFMEU Riverina and Murray Regional Agreement 2011-2015.

[1] On 29 March 2019, SJ & TA Structural Pty Ltd (Applicant) lodged an application pursuant to s.222 of the Fair Work Act 2009 (Act) to terminate The Trustee for SJ & TA Phillips Family Trust t/a SJ & TA Structural Pty Ltd and the CFMEU Riverina and Murray Regional Agreement 2011-2015 (Agreement). The Applicant is the employer covered by the Agreement.

[2] The Agreement is a single enterprise agreement and its nominal expiry date is 31 March 2015.

[3] The relevant provisions of the Act are as follows:

“222 Application for the FWC’s approval of a termination of an enterprise agreement

Application for approval

(1) If a termination of an enterprise agreement has been agreed to, a person covered by the agreement must apply to the FWC for approval of the termination.

Material to accompany the application

(2) The application must be accompanied by any declarations that are required by the procedural rules to accompany the application.

When the application must be made

(3) The application must be made:

(a) within 14 days after the termination is agreed to; or

(b) if in all the circumstances the FWC considers it fair to extend that period—within such further period as the FWC allows.

223 When the FWC must approve a termination of an enterprise agreement

If an application for the approval of a termination of an enterprise agreement is made under section 222, the FWC must approve the termination if:

(a) the FWC is satisfied that each employer covered by the agreement complied with subsection 220(2) (which deals with giving employees a reasonable opportunity to decide etc.) in relation to the agreement; and

(b) the FWC is satisfied that the termination was agreed to in accordance with whichever of subsection 221(1) or (2) applies (those subsections deal with agreement to the termination of different kinds of enterprise agreements by employee vote); and

(c) the FWC is satisfied that there are no other reasonable grounds for believing that the employees have not agreed to the termination; and

(d) the FWC considers that it is appropriate to approve the termination taking into account the views of the employee organisation or employee organisations (if any) covered by the agreement.

224 When termination comes into operation

If a termination of an enterprise agreement is approved under section 223, the termination operates from the day specified in the decision to approve the termination.”

[4] On 29 April 2019, the Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union (CFMMEU) advised chambers that it does not oppose the application.

[5] Based on the material contained in the declaration filed with the application, I am satisfied that:

(a) the Applicant complied with s.220(2) of the Act;

(b) the termination was agreed to in accordance with s.221(1) of the Act;

(c) there are no other reasonable grounds for believing that the employees have not agreed to the termination;

(d) taking into account the views of the CFMMEU, which is covered by the Agreement and which does not oppose its termination; and

I consider that it is appropriate to terminate the Agreement.

[6] The termination will operate from 20 May 2019.

[7] An order giving effect to this decision is separately issued in PR708288.

DEPUTY PRESIDENT

Printed by authority of the Commonwealth Government Printer

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