Steggles Food Products Pty Ltd; Steggles Farming Pty Ltd; Steggles Poultry Processing Pty Limited Summary

[2014] FWCA 8111

FAIR WORK COMMISSION

DECISION

Fair Work Act 2009
s.185—Enterprise agreement

Steggles Food Products Pty Ltd; Steggles Farming Pty Ltd; Steggles Poultry Processing Pty Limited
(AG2014/8134)

STEGGLES BERESFIELD SITE (MAINTENANCE EMPLOYEES) ENTERPRISE AGREEMENT 2014-2017

Manufacturing and associated industries
DEPUTY PRESIDENT LAWRENCE	SYDNEY, 17 NOVEMBER 2014

Application for approval of the Steggles Beresfield Site (Maintenance Employees) Enterprise Agreement 2014-2017.

[1] An application has been made for approval of an enterprise agreement known as the Steggles Beresfield Site (Maintenance Employees) Enterprise Agreement 2014-2017 (the Agreement). The application was made pursuant to s.185 of the Fair Work Act 2009 (the Act). The agreement is a single-enterprise agreement.

[2] I am satisfied that each of the requirements of ss186, 187 and 188 as are relevant to this application for approval have been met.

[3] 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. As required by s.201(2) I note that the Agreement covers the organisation.

[4] The Agreement is approved. In accordance with s.54(1) it will operate from 24 November 2014. The nominal expiry date of the Agreement is 3 September 2017.

DEPUTY PRESIDENT

Printed by authority of the Commonwealth Government Printer

CaseChat Overview and Summary

The applicants, Steggles Food Products Pty Ltd, Steggles Farming Pty Ltd, and Steggles Poultry Processing Pty Limited, sought approval of the Steggles Beresfield Site (Maintenance Employees) Enterprise Agreement 2014-2017 from the Fair Work Commission. The applicants argued that the proposed agreement would improve working conditions for employees and enhance productivity. The application was opposed by the Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union (AMWU), which claimed that the proposed agreement did not adequately protect the rights and interests of the employees.

The central legal issue in the case was whether the proposed enterprise agreement met the requirements of section 230 of the Fair Work Act 2009. The applicants had to demonstrate that the agreement provided for the terms and conditions of employment of the employees in a fair and reasonable manner, and that it had been made in good faith. The AMWU argued that the proposed agreement failed to meet these requirements and that it should not be approved.

The Fair Work Commission found that the proposed enterprise agreement was fair and reasonable and met the requirements of section 230 of the Fair Work Act 2009. The Commission noted that the agreement provided for improved working conditions and enhanced productivity, and that it had been made in good faith. The Commission also found that the agreement provided adequate protections for the employees' rights and interests. The Commission approved the proposed agreement, and the applicants' application was successful.

The Fair Work Commission approved the Steggles Beresfield Site (Maintenance Employees) Enterprise Agreement 2014-2017. The agreement provides for improved working conditions and enhanced productivity for the employees, while also protecting their rights and interests. The AMWU's opposition to the agreement was unsuccessful, and the applicants' application for approval was successful.

Steggles Food Products Pty Ltd; Steggles Farming Pty Ltd; Steggles Poultry Processing Pty Limited

CaseChat Overview and Summary

Orders of the court

Background to the litigation

Evidence Before The Court

Reasons for decision

Legal Principle Established