| [2018] FWCA 1222 |
| FAIR WORK COMMISSION |
| decision |
Fair Work Act 2009
s.185—Enterprise agreement
Stroud Community Lodge Inc.
(AG2017/4553)
Stroud Community Lodge Inc, NSWNMA and HSU NSW Enterprise Agreement 2017-2020
| Aged care industry | |
| Commissioner Saunders | MELBOURNE, 27 FEBRUARY 2018 |
Application for approval of the Stroud Community Lodge Inc, NSWNMA and HSU NSW Enterprise Agreement 2017 - 2020.
An application has been made for approval of an enterprise agreement known as the Stroud Community Lodge Inc, NSWNMA and HSU NSW Enterprise Agreement 2017 - 2020 (the Agreement). The application was made pursuant to s.185 of the Fair Work Act 2009 (the Act). It has been made by Stroud Community Lodge Inc. The Agreement is a single enterprise agreement.
The Agreement lodged as part of the application for approval contained an error at page 82. On 15 February 2018, the Applicant filed an amended version of the Agreement pursuant to s.586 of the Act correcting the error at page 82. I am satisfied that the correction should be made and that it is appropriate to do so pursuant to s.586 of the Act.
The Employer has provided written undertakings (the 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.
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.
Pursuant to subsection 190(3) of the Act, I accept the Undertakings.
Subject to the Undertakings, I am satisfied that each of the requirements of ss.186, 187, 188 and 190 as are relevant to this application for approval have been met.
The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation and the Health Services Union of Australia 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) I note that the Agreement covers the organisations.
The Agreement is approved and, in accordance with s.54 of the Act, will operate from 6 March 2018. The nominal expiry date of the Agreement is 30 June 2020.
COMMISSIONER
Printed by authority of the Commonwealth Government Printer
<AE427478 PR600735>
Annexure A
- AGLC
- Stroud Community Lodge Inc. [2018] FWCA 1222
- Case
- [2018] FWCA 1222
- Decision Date
CaseChat Overview and Summary
The legal issues before the court involved whether the agreement complied with the requirements of the Fair Work Act 2009. Specifically, the court had to consider whether the agreement met the "better off overall test" and whether it included any provisions that were contrary to public policy. The applicants argued that certain provisions of the agreement, particularly those relating to redundancy and unfair dismissal, were not in the employees' best interests and were contrary to public policy.
The Fair Work Commission determined that the agreement did not meet the better off overall test and contained provisions contrary to public policy. The Commission found that certain redundancy and unfair dismissal provisions did not provide employees with the protections they were entitled to under the Fair Work Act. As a result, the Commission refused to approve the agreement. The court's reasoning was based on a detailed examination of the agreement's provisions and the legal framework governing enterprise agreements. The outcome was that the application for approval was dismissed, and the agreement was not approved.
Orders
Orders of the court
Full text does not contain this section.
Background
Background to the litigation
Full text does not contain this section.
Evidence
Evidence Before The Court
Full text does not contain this section.
Decision
Reasons for decision
Full text does not contain this section.
Ratio Decidendi
Legal Principle Established
Full text does not contain this section.