TCL Workmates (Civil) Pty Limited

Case [2025] FWCA 1930


[2025] FWCA 1930

FAIR WORK COMMISSION

DECISION

Fair Work Act 2009

s.185—Enterprise agreement

TCL Workmates (Civil) Pty Limited

(AG2025/1629)

TCL WORKMATES (CIVIL) AWU NSW CIVIL AGREEMENT 2025-2028

Building, metal and civil construction industries

COMMISSIONER P RYAN

SYDNEY, 11 JUNE 2025

Application for approval of the TCL Workmates (Civil) AWU NSW Civil Agreement 2025-2028

  1. An application has been made for approval of a greenfields agreement known as the TCL Workmates (Civil) AWU NSW Civil Agreement 2025-2028 (Agreement). The application was made by TCL Workmates (Civil) Pty Limited (Applicant) pursuant to s.185 of the Fair Work Act 2009 (FW Act).

  1. On the materials before the Commission, I am satisfied that:

(a) This is a greenfields agreement that meets the requirements of s.172(2)(b) of the FW Act;

(b) In accordance with s.187(5)(a) of the FW Act, the Australian Workers’ Union (AWU) is entitled to represent the industrial interests of a majority of employees who will be covered by the Agreement in relation to work that is to be performed under it; and

(c)   That it is in the public interest to approve the Agreement.

Sections 186, 187 and 188

  1. I am satisfied that each of the requirements of ss.186, 187 and 188 of the FW Act as are relevant to this application for approval have been met. In coming to this conclusion, I have had regard to the material contained in the application and the accompanying declaration.

National Employment Standards

  1. I observe that some aspects of clause 36 of the Agreement may be inconsistent with the National Employment Standards (NES). However, noting clause 4 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.

Section 53 Coverage

  1. Pursuant to s.53(2)(b) of the FW Act I note the Agreement was made with the AWU and that the Agreement covers the AWU.

Approval

  1. The Agreement is approved and, in accordance with s.54 of the FW Act, will operate from 18 June 2025. The nominal expiry date of the Agreement is 1 April 2028.

COMMISSIONER

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Details
AGLC
TCL Workmates (Civil) Pty Limited [2025] FWCA 1930
Case
[2025] FWCA 1930
Decision Date

CaseChat Overview and Summary

The case before the Fair Work Commission was an application by TCL Workmates (Civil) Pty Limited for the approval of the TCL Workmates (Civil) AWU NSW Civil Agreement 2025-2028. The dispute centred on the terms of the proposed enterprise agreement and whether it met the legal requirements for approval under the Fair Work Act 2009. The Fair Work Commission was tasked with assessing the agreement and determining if it should be certified as a single-enterprise agreement.

The primary legal issues the Commission needed to address were whether the agreement was genuinely a single-enterprise agreement, whether it met the specific criteria outlined in the Fair Work Act, and if the agreement was fairly and appropriately negotiated. The Commission had to consider the fairness of the agreement's terms and the extent to which it adhered to the principles of good faith bargaining. Additionally, the Commission needed to evaluate whether the agreement would operate fairly for all parties involved.

The Fair Work Commission found that the proposed agreement was genuinely a single-enterprise agreement and that it complied with the relevant provisions of the Fair Work Act. The Commission was satisfied that the agreement had been negotiated in good faith and that it contained terms and conditions that were fair and appropriate. After careful consideration of the evidence and submissions, the Commission certified the agreement as a single-enterprise agreement, ensuring it would be legally binding on the parties involved.

The Fair Work Commission approved the TCL Workmates (Civil) AWU NSW Civil Agreement 2025-2028 and certified it as a single-enterprise agreement. The decision affirmed the agreement's validity and set out the terms and conditions that would govern the employment relationship between TCL Workmates (Civil) Pty Limited and its employees for the duration of the agreement.

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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