Transport Workers' Union of Australia v Cleanaway Operations Pty Ltd T/A Cleanaway

Case [2023] FWC 397


[2023] FWC 397

FAIR WORK COMMISSION

DECISION

Fair Work Act 2009

s.437—Protected action

Transport Workers’ Union of Australia
v

Cleanaway Operations Pty Ltd T/A Cleanaway

(B2023/117)

DEPUTY PRESIDENT CLANCY

MELBOURNE, 17 FEBRUARY 2023

Proposed protected action ballot of employees of Cleanaway Operations Pty Ltd Trading As Cleanaway - Hobson Bay, Moonee Valley & Boroondara (Municipal) Enterprise Agreement 2017

  1. This is an application by the Transport Workers’ Union of Australia (Applicant) made under s.437 of the Fair Work Act 2009 (Act) for a protected action ballot order in relation to certain employees of Cleanaway Operations Pty Ltd T/A Cleanaway (the Respondent).

  1. The Respondent initially raised concerns in relation to the form and content of the order, specifically the industrial action identified in questions 6 and 7 of the draft order accompanying the application. I determined a Mention should be conducted, during which I discussed these concerns with the parties and other matters subsequently raised. During the Mention, the Respondent advised that it did not intend to pursue its objections further.

  1. With the Mention having resolved the various matters raised, I have proceeded to determine the matter on the papers without holding a hearing.

  1. On the basis of the material before me, including the declaration of Mr Greg Fleming of the Applicant 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 PR750694.


DEPUTY PRESIDENT

Printed by authority of the Commonwealth Government Printer

<PR750693>

Details
AGLC
Transport Workers' Union of Australia v Cleanaway Operations Pty Ltd T/A Cleanaway [2023] FWC 397
Case
[2023] FWC 397
Decision Date

CaseChat Overview and Summary

The Transport Workers’ Union of Australia sought a protected action ballot order from the Fair Work Commission under section 437 of the Fair Work Act 2009. The application was in relation to certain employees of Cleanaway Operations Pty Ltd T/A Cleanaway. The application concerned a proposed protected action ballot for employees under the Hobson Bay, Moonee Valley and Boroondara (Municipal) Enterprise Agreement 2017. Cleanaway Operations Pty Ltd initially raised concerns regarding the form and content of the ballot order, specifically the industrial action identified in questions 6 and 7 of the draft order accompanying the application. However, the Respondent did not pursue these objections further after a Mention was conducted to discuss these concerns.

The key legal issue before the Deputy President was whether the notification time in relation to the proposed agreement had been met and if the requirements of section 443(1) of the Fair Work Act 2009 had been satisfied. The Deputy President considered the material before them, including a declaration from Mr Greg Fleming of the Applicant, setting out the steps taken by the Union in bargaining with the Respondent and that it had been, and was, genuinely trying to reach agreement with the Respondent.

Based on the evidence before the Deputy President, they were satisfied that there was a notification time in relation to the proposed agreement and that the requirements of section 443(1) of the Fair Work Act 2009 had been met. Consequently, the Deputy President granted the Union’s application for a protected action ballot order. No further hearing was required as the Mention had resolved the various matters raised. An order was separately issued in PR750694.

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

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Ratio Decidendi

Legal Principle Established

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