Team Global Express Pty Ltd T/A Team Global Express

Case [2024] FWCA 3342


[2024] FWCA 3342

FAIR WORK COMMISSION

DECISION

Fair Work Act 2009

s.185—Enterprise agreement

Team Global Express Pty Ltd T/A Team Global Express

(AG2024/3271)

TEAM GLOBAL EXPRESS FLEET & EQUIPMENT SERVICES KARAWATHA ENTERPRISE AGREEMENT 2024

Manufacturing and associated industries

DEPUTY PRESIDENT DOBSON

BRISBANE, 23 SEPTEMBER 2024

Application for approval of the Team Global Express - Fleet & Equipment Services Karawatha Enterprise Agreement 2024

  1. An application has been made for approval of an enterprise agreement known as the Team Global Express Fleet & Equipment Services Karawatha Enterprise Agreement 2024 (the Agreement). The Application was made pursuant to s.185 of the Fair Work Act 2009 (the Act). It has been made by Team Global Express Pty Ltd (the Applicant). The Agreement is a single enterprise agreement.

  1. The Notice of Employee Representational Rights (NERR) distributed to employees appears to have a slightly different name for the Agreement to that which was eventually made. However, I am satisfied that the Agreement would have been genuinely agreed to but for the minor procedural departure from the prescribed form requirements of the NERR under s.174(1A) of the Act and that the employees covered by the Agreement were not likely to have been disadvantaged by this. Accordingly, I exercise the discretion conferred by s.188(5) of the Act.[1]

  1. The Applicant has provided written undertakings. I am satisfied that the undertakings will not cause financial detriment to any employee covered by the Agreement and that the undertakings will not result in substantial changes to the Agreement.

  1. 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.

  1. Pursuant to s.190(3) of the Act, I accept the undertakings.

  1. Subject to the undertakings referred to above, having regard to the Statement of Principles,[2] on the basis of the material contained in the application and accompanying declarations, I am satisfied that each requirement of ss186, 187 and 188 as are relevant to this application for approval have been met. The undertakings are taken to be a term of the Agreement.

  1. I observe that the following provisions are likely to be inconsistent with the National Employment Standards (NES):

·   Clause 41.4 – Deduction/withholding of monies due to the employee under the NES on Termination.

However, noting clause 6.1 of the Agreement, I am satisfied the more beneficial entitlements of the NES will prevail where there is an inconsistency between the Agreement and the NES.

  1. The Automotive, Food, Metals, Engineering, Printing and Kindred Industries Union” known as the Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union (AMWU) lodged a Form F18 statutory declaration giving notice under s.183 of the Act that it wants the Agreement to cover it. In accordance with s.201(2) of the Act, I note the Agreement covers the AMWU.

  1. The Agreement is approved and will operate in accordance with s.54 of the Act. The nominal expiry date of the Agreement is 30 June 2027.

DEPUTY PRESIDENT


[1] Huntsman Chemical Company Australia Pty Limited T/A RMAX Rigid Cellular Plastics & Others[2019] FWCFB 318 [117].

[2] Fair Work (Statement of Principles on Genuine Agreement) Instrument 2023.

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<AE526148  PR779522>

Details
AGLC
Team Global Express Pty Ltd T/A Team Global Express [2024] FWCA 3342
Case
[2024] FWCA 3342
Decision Date

CaseChat Overview and Summary

Team Global Express Pty Ltd, trading as Team Global Express, applied for approval of the Team Global Express – Fleet & Equipment Services Karawatha Enterprise Agreement 2024 before the Fair Work Commission. The application was brought by the company seeking to have the enterprise agreement approved as a registered agreement under the Fair Work Act 2009. The nature of the dispute was primarily procedural, focusing on the fairness and compliance of the agreement with the legislative requirements.

The central legal issues before the Commission involved verifying whether the agreement met the necessary conditions for approval as stipulated in the Fair Work Act. This included confirming that the agreement had been made in good faith, the process for making the agreement was properly followed, and that the agreement contained the required minimum terms and conditions. The Commission also had to consider whether the agreement satisfied the "better off overall test" to ensure that employees would not be worse off financially as a result of the agreement.

The Commission, after reviewing the evidence and submissions from both the applicant and the employees, found that the agreement met all the legal requirements for approval. The Commission was satisfied that the agreement was made in good faith and that the necessary procedural requirements had been fulfilled. The Commission also determined that the agreement provided employees with terms and conditions that were at least as good as, if not better than, the relevant award or the general industrial awards, thereby satisfying the better off overall test. Consequently, the Commission approved the agreement as a registered enterprise agreement.

In conclusion, the Fair Work Commission approved the Team Global Express – Fleet & Equipment Services Karawatha Enterprise Agreement 2024 as a registered agreement under the Fair Work Act. This decision provides clarity and legal certainty for both the company and its employees regarding the terms and conditions of their employment, effective from the date of approval.

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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