The Australian Workers' Union v Cleanaway Pty Ltd

Case [2022] FWC 2592


[2022] FWC 2592

FAIR WORK COMMISSION

DECISION

Fair Work Act 2009

s.437—Protected action

The Australian Workers’ Union
v

Cleanaway Pty Ltd

(B2022/1437)

VICE PRESIDENT CATANZARITI

SYDNEY, 27 SEPTEMBER 2022

Proposed protected action ballot of employees of Cleanaway Pty Ltd

  1. This is an application by the Australian Workers’ Union (Applicant) made under s.437 of the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) (Act) for a protected action ballot order in relation to certain employees of Cleanaway Pty Ltd (Respondent).

  1. On 27 September 2022, the Fair Work Commission was advised that the Respondent did not oppose the application.

  1. In the circumstances, I have decided to determine the matter on the papers without holding a hearing.

  1. On the basis of the material before me, including the statutory declaration of Darren Lee of the Applicant declared on 21 September 2022, setting out the steps taken by it in bargaining with the Respondent and that it has been, and is, genuinely trying to reach agreement with the Respondent, I am satisfied that there is a notification time in relation to the proposed agreement and that the requirements in s.443(1) of the Act have been met.

  1. An Order has been separately issued in PR746234.


VICE PRESIDENT

Printed by authority of the Commonwealth Government Printer

<PR746235>

Details
AGLC
The Australian Workers' Union v Cleanaway Pty Ltd [2022] FWC 2592
Case
[2022] FWC 2592
Decision Date

CaseChat Overview and Summary

The Australian Workers’ Union (AWU) applied to the Fair Work Commission (FWC) for a protected action ballot order under section 437 of the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) concerning certain employees of Cleanaway Pty Ltd. The application was made in response to the parties' failure to reach an agreement during their negotiations. Cleanaway Pty Ltd did not oppose the application, leading to the FWC deciding to determine the matter based on the submitted documents without a hearing.

The legal issues before the FWC included whether the AWU had genuinely tried to reach an agreement with Cleanaway Pty Ltd and whether the notification time for the proposed agreement had been met. The FWC needed to assess if the AWU had complied with the requirements under section 443(1) of the Fair Work Act 2009. The statutory declaration of Darren Lee of the AWU, declared on 21 September 2022, was considered to substantiate the union's efforts in bargaining and its commitment to reaching an agreement with Cleanaway Pty Ltd.

After reviewing the material, including the statutory declaration, the FWC concluded that the notification time for the proposed agreement was valid and that the AWU had met the requirements under section 443(1) of the Fair Work Act 2009. Consequently, the FWC granted the AWU's application for a protected action ballot order. A separate order was issued in PR746234, formalising the decision.

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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