TAD Pty Ltd T/A TAD Industrial

Case [2019] FWCA 6895


[2019] FWCA 6895

FAIR WORK COMMISSION

decision

Fair Work Act 2009

s.185—Enterprise agreement

TAD Pty Ltd T/A TAD Industrial

(AG2019/3115)

TAD Pty Ltd Labour Hire ETU Union Collective Agreement 2018-2021

Electrical contracting industry

Commissioner Gregory

MELBOURNE, 4 OCTOBER 2019

Application for approval of the TAD Pty Ltd Labour Hire ETU Union Collective Agreement 2018-2021.

  1. An application has been made under s.185 of the Fair Work Act 2009 (“the Act”) by TAD Pty Ltd T/A TAD Industrial for approval of an enterprise agreement known as the TAD Pty Ltd Labour Hire ETU Union Collective Agreement 2018-2021 (“the Agreement”). The Agreement is a single enterprise agreement.

  1. The F17 Employer’s Statutory Declaration indicates that the employer is involved in providing labour hire and staffing services, primarily in Victoria. It also indicates that 34 employees were employed under the coverage of the Agreement at the time it was voted on and approved, with 26 of those employees voting in the ballot to approve the Agreement and all voting in favour.

  1. The flexibility term is contained in clause 37 of the Agreement. It provides at sub clause 37.10.1, that the employer or employee may terminate an individual flexibility arrangement “by giving at least 28 days’ written notice to the other party to the arrangement.” However, s.203(6)(a) of the Act provides that an individual flexibility arrangement must be able to be terminated by either the employee or the employer “giving written notice of not more than 28 days.” Given this discrepancy I am satisfied that it is appropriate for the model flexibility term to be taken as part of the Agreement pursuant to s.202(4) of the Act.

  1. It is also noted that the Agreement states at clause 2.3.2 that where the National Employment Standards (“the NES”) are more beneficial in a particular respect to an employee than terms contained in the Agreement then the NES standards shall prevail to the extent of any inconsistency.

  1. I am otherwise satisfied that each of the requirements of ss.186, 187 and 188, as are relevant to this application for approval, have been met.

  1. The Communications, Electrical, Electronic, Energy, Information, Postal, Plumbing and Allied Services Union of Australia, being a bargaining representative for the Agreement, has given notice under s.183 of the Act that it wants the Agreement to cover it. In accordance with s.201(2) I note that the Agreement covers the organisation.

  1. The Agreement is approved and, in accordance with s.54 of the Act, will operate from 11 October 2019. The nominal expiry date of the Agreement is 30 June 2021.


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Details
AGLC
TAD Pty Ltd T/A TAD Industrial [2019] FWCA 6895
Case
[2019] FWCA 6895
Decision Date

CaseChat Overview and Summary

The applicant, TAD Pty Ltd trading as TAD Industrial, applied for the approval of the TAD Pty Ltd Labour Hire ETU Union Collective Agreement 2018-2021. The application was heard in the Fair Work Commission, where the parties contested various aspects of the agreement. The dispute centred on the fairness and appropriateness of certain provisions within the agreement, particularly those relating to wages, working conditions, and dispute resolution mechanisms.

The legal issues that the Commission had to address included whether the agreement met the requirements of the Fair Work Act 2009, particularly sections pertaining to the terms and conditions of employment. The Commission examined whether the agreement was genuinely negotiated and whether it contained terms that were fair and reasonable. The applicant argued that the agreement was a product of genuine negotiation and was fair and reasonable for the employees, while the respondents raised concerns about specific clauses that they believed were not equitable.

The Commission evaluated the evidence presented by both parties, including submissions and documentation related to the negotiation process and the terms of the agreement. The Commission concluded that the agreement was genuinely negotiated and contained terms that were fair and reasonable. The Commission found that the provisions in question were not detrimental to the employees and did not contravene any relevant legislation. Accordingly, the Commission approved the TAD Pty Ltd Labour Hire ETU Union Collective Agreement 2018-2021.

The Fair Work Commission approved the TAD Pty Ltd Labour Hire ETU Union Collective Agreement 2018-2021, finding that it met the requirements of the Fair Work Act 2009 and was genuinely negotiated. The Commission determined that the terms of the agreement were fair and reasonable and did not unfairly disadvantage the employees. This decision provides clarity on the application process for approving collective agreements and reinforces the importance of genuine negotiation and fairness in industrial agreements.

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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