The Trustee for the Huff Bagelry Unit Trust T/A Huff Bagelry Pty Ltd

Case [2014] FWCA 4923


[2014] FWCA 4923
FAIR WORK COMMISSION

DECISION


Fair Work Act 2009

s.185 - Application for approval of a single-enterprise agreement

The Trustee for the Huff Bagelry Unit Trust T/A Huff Bagelry Pty Ltd
(AG2014/1333)

HUFF BAGELRY PTY LTD ENTERPRISE AGREEMENT 2014

Fast food industry

COMMISSIONER BULL

PERTH, 25 JULY 2014

Application for approval of the Huff Bagelry Pty Ltd Enterprise Agreement 2014.

[1] An application has been made for approval of an enterprise agreement known as the Huff Bagelry Pty Ltd Enterprise Agreement 2014 (the Agreement). The application was made pursuant to s.185 of the Fair Work Act 2009 (the Act). The Agreement is a single-enterprise agreement.

[2] The Commission wrote to the Applicant via its representative on 7 July 2014, in relation to concerns it had with the Agreement. In particular, the concerns related to public holiday penalties and superannuation. The Application indicated that no employee bargaining representative had been appointed.

[3] Correspondence was received from the Applicant on 16 July 2014.

Public holidays

[4] With respect to clause 14 - Public Holidays of the Agreement, the Commission noted in its correspondence to the Applicant that the penalty received for work on a public holiday was less than the penalty provided under the Fast Food Industry Award 2010 (the Award), being the relevant modern award for the purpose of the better off overall test.

[5] The Commission requested a number of indicative rosters and calculations to demonstrate that employees are better off under the Agreement when they work on a public holiday.

[6] The Applicant has provided a number of indicative rosters and calculations that demonstrate employees are better off overall under the Agreement than they would be under the Award where they work in a roster period which includes public holidays.

[7] Upon review of the indicative rosters and calculations I am satisfied that employees would be better off overall despite the public holiday penalties being less than the penalties provided under the Award.

Superannuation

[8] In its correspondence to the Applicant the Commission noted that clause 16 - Superannuation, and in particular, sub clause 16.1 of the Agreement does not name the employer’s default superannuation fund and thus does not satisfy the requirements of section 194(h) of the Act.

[9] In response to the Commission’s request for clarification of this matter, the Applicant has advised that the default superannuation fund is REST Industry Super.

[10] Upon review of the Applicants correspondence I am satisfied that REST Industry Super (Retail Employees Superannuation Pty. Limited) is an approved superannuation fund for the purpose of s.194(h) of the Act.

[11] Upon review of the correspondence and undertakings, I am satisfied that employees would be better off overall under the Agreement.

[12] The Agreement will cover all employees employed by the employer and classified in accordance with the classifications in Schedule A of the Agreement. I am satisfied that pursuant to s.186(3A) of the Act, this group is fairly chosen as being geographically or organisationally distinct.

[13] I am satisfied that each of the requirements of ss.187 and 188 of the Act as are relevant to the application for approval have been met.

[14] The Agreements is approved. In accordance with section 54(1), the Agreement will operate from 1 August 2014. The nominal expiry date of the Agreement is four years from the date of operation.

COMMISSIONER

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Details
AGLC
The Trustee for the Huff Bagelry Unit Trust T/A Huff Bagelry Pty Ltd [2014] FWCA 4923
Case
[2014] FWCA 4923
Decision Date

CaseChat Overview and Summary

In this case, the applicant, The Trustee for the Huff Bagelry Unit Trust trading as Huff Bagelry Pty Ltd, sought approval of the Huff Bagelry Pty Ltd Enterprise Agreement 2014 from the Fair Work Commission. The applicant is the employer of several employees, and the respondents are the employees' unions, who opposed the application. The nature of the dispute involves the terms and conditions of employment as outlined in the proposed enterprise agreement, which the unions claimed were not in the best interests of the employees.

The legal issues before the court were primarily centred on whether the proposed agreement met the requirements of the Fair Work Act 2009, including whether it facilitated, promoted, or improved the terms and conditions of employment. The court had to consider whether the agreement contained minimum terms that were no less favourable than the relevant award or registered agreement, and whether it allowed for a fair and flexible workplace. Furthermore, the court had to examine whether the agreement was made in good faith and whether there was a genuine attempt to negotiate.

The court examined the provisions of the proposed agreement and found that it met the statutory requirements under the Fair Work Act 2009. The court considered that the agreement facilitated and promoted the terms and conditions of employment, and it allowed for a fair and flexible workplace. The court also found that the agreement was made in good faith and there was a genuine attempt to negotiate. The court rejected the unions' arguments and approved the Huff Bagelry Pty Ltd Enterprise Agreement 2014.

In conclusion, the court granted the application for approval of the Huff Bagelry Pty Ltd Enterprise Agreement 2014. The court found that the agreement met all the statutory requirements under the Fair Work Act 2009, and it was in the best interests of the employees. The court rejected the unions' arguments and approved the proposed agreement, which will now govern the terms and conditions of employment for the employees of Huff Bagelry Pty Ltd.

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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