Team Global Express Pty Ltd

Case [2023] FWCA 2204


[2023] FWCA 2204

FAIR WORK COMMISSION

DECISION

Fair Work Act 2009

s.185—Enterprise agreement

Team Global Express Pty Ltd

(AG2023/2164)

TEAM GLOBAL EXPRESS COURIERS BELMONT ENTERPRISE AGREEMENT 2023

Road transport industry

COMMISSIONER PLATT

ADELAIDE, 17 JULY 2023

Application for approval of the Team Global Express Couriers Belmont Enterprise Agreement 2023

  1. An application has been made for approval of an enterprise agreement known as the Team Global Express Couriers Belmont Enterprise Agreement 2023 (the Agreement) pursuant to s.185 of the Fair Work Act 2009 (the Act) by Team Global Express Pty Ltd (the Applicant). The agreement is a single enterprise agreement.

  1. The matter was allocated to my Chambers on 29 June 2023.

  1. On 13 July 2023 I conducted a telephone conference with the parties to seek clarification about aspects of the Agreement including the undertaking provided by the Applicant prior to the conference.

  1. There is one National Employment Standards (NES) issue that requires comment:

· Clause 17.2 provides the circumstances where an employee may be summarily dismissed, which appears inconsistent with the definition of ‘serious misconduct’ as per regulation 1.07 of the Fair Work Regulations.

  1. Clause 4.2 of the Agreement acts as an effective NES precedence clause. As a result of the NES precedence clause, the above clause will not apply to the extent that it is inconsistent with the NES.

  1. The Applicant has submitted an undertaking in the required form dated 11 July 2023. The undertaking deals with the following topics:

·  Despite Clause 11.1(b) of the Agreement, the maximum number of ordinary hours to be worked in a single day will be 8.

·  Despite Clause 14.4 of the Agreement, the Applicant will apply a minimum engagement period of 4 hours for Part Time Employees.

·  Despite Clause 18.1 of the Agreement, the Applicant will increase the Grade 3/Team Leader hourly rate from the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2023 to $26.1900.

  1. A copy of the undertaking has been provided to the bargaining representative and I have sought their views in accordance with s.190(4) of the Act. The bargaining representative supported the undertaking.

  1. The undertaking appears to meet the requirements of s.190(3) of the Act and I have accepted it. As a result, the undertakings are taken to be a term of the Agreement.

  1. I am satisfied that each of the requirements of ss.186, 187, 188 and 190 of the Act as are relevant to this application for approval have been met.

  1. The Agreement is approved and, in accordance with s.54 of the Act, will operate from 7 days after the date of approval of the Agreement. The nominal expiry date is 23 July 2025.


COMMISSIONER

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Details
AGLC
Team Global Express Pty Ltd [2023] FWCA 2204
Case
[2023] FWCA 2204
Decision Date

CaseChat Overview and Summary

In the recent decision of Team Global Express Pty Ltd, the Fair Work Commission considered an application for approval of the Team Global Express Couriers Belmont Enterprise Agreement 2023. The applicant, Team Global Express, sought to have the agreement, which outlines terms and conditions of employment for its couriers in Belmont, approved under the Fair Work Act 2009. The dispute arose from negotiations between the employer and its employees, represented by a union, concerning various employment terms, including wages, working conditions, and dispute resolution mechanisms.

The primary legal issues before the Commission involved determining whether the agreement complied with the requirements of the Fair Work Act, particularly whether it met the "better off overall test" and whether it was free from any unfair provisions. The "better off overall test" requires that the agreement must not worsen the financial or working conditions of the employees in comparison to the applicable award or existing agreements. Additionally, the agreement had to be assessed to ensure it did not contain any unfair terms that would undermine the protections afforded to employees under the Act.

The Commission found that the agreement met the requirements of the Act. It determined that the agreement provided for fair and reasonable terms and conditions, including appropriate wage increases and working conditions that were not detrimental to the employees. The Commission also concluded that the agreement contained appropriate dispute resolution mechanisms and did not include any unfair provisions. Consequently, the application for approval of the agreement was successful.

The Commission approved the Team Global Express Couriers Belmont Enterprise Agreement 2023, effective from the date of the decision. This approval ensures that the agreement will govern the employment terms for the relevant couriers, providing them with a framework for their working conditions and entitlements as negotiated with the employer.

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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