TT-Line Company Pty Ltd T/A Spirit of Tasmania

Case [2019] FWCA 2285


[2019] FWCA 2285
FAIR WORK COMMISSION

DECISION


Fair Work Act 2009

s.185—Enterprise agreement

TT-Line Company Pty Ltd T/A Spirit of Tasmania
(AG2018/6369)

TT-LINE COMPANY PTY LTD & MUA SEAGOING EMPLOYEES, RETAIL & HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT AND IN PORT WORKERS, ENTERPRISE AGREEMENT 2017

Maritime industry

COMMISSIONER LEE

MELBOURNE, 4 APRIL 2019

Application for approval of the TT-Line Company Pty Ltd & MUA Seagoing Employees, Retail & Hospitality Management & In-Port Workers Enterprise Agreement 2017.

[1] An application has been made for approval of an enterprise agreement known as the TT-Line Company Pty Ltd & MUA Seagoing Employees, Retail & Hospitality Management & In-Port Workers Enterprise Agreement 2017 (the Agreement). The application was made pursuant to s.185 of the Fair Work Act 2009 (the Act). It has been made by TT-Line Company Pty Ltd T/A Spirit of Tasmania. The Agreement is a single enterprise agreement.

[2] The Employer has provided written undertakings. A copy of the undertakings is attached in Annexure A. 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.

[3] Subject to the undertakings referred to above, I am satisfied that each of the requirements of ss.186, 187, 188 and 190 as are relevant to this application for approval have been met.

[4] Pursuant to s.205(2) of the Act, the model consultation term prescribed by the Fair Work Regulations 2009 is taken to be a term of the Agreement.

[5] The Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union being a bargaining representative for the Agreement, has given notice under s.183 of the Act that it wants the Agreement to cover it. In accordance with s.201(2) I note that the Agreement covers the organisation.

[6] I observe that the following provisions are likely to be inconsistent with the National Employment Standards (NES):

  Clause 6 (iii) of Schedule 6 – Other entitlements; and

  Clause 6 (iv) of Schedule 6 – Other entitlements.

However, noting clause 5(b) 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.

[7] The Agreement is approved and, in accordance with s.54 of the Act, will operate from 11 April 2019. The nominal expiry date of the Agreement is 30 June 2021.

COMMISSIONER

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<AE502733  PR706594>

Annexure A

Details
AGLC
TT-Line Company Pty Ltd T/A Spirit of Tasmania [2019] FWCA 2285
Case
[2019] FWCA 2285
Decision Date

CaseChat Overview and Summary

The case involved the TT-Line Company Pty Ltd trading as Spirit of Tasmania and several union groups, including MUA Seagoing Employees, Retail & Hospitality Management & In-Port Workers. The dispute centred around the application for the approval of the Enterprise Agreement 2017. The application was heard in the Fair Work Commission, a federal workplace relations tribunal in Australia.

The primary legal issue was whether the Enterprise Agreement 2017 complied with the provisions of the Fair Work Act 2009, particularly in relation to the requirements for good faith bargaining and the need for the agreement to meet the "better off overall test". This test ensures that the employees are not disadvantaged by the terms of the agreement compared to their previous conditions.

The Fair Work Commission considered the evidence presented by both the employer and the unions. It examined the process of bargaining and the terms of the agreement, including pay rates, conditions of employment, and dispute resolution mechanisms. The Commission found that the agreement had been negotiated in good faith and that it met the better off overall test. The Commission concluded that the proposed agreement was fair and reasonable and approved it.

The Commission’s decision was based on a detailed analysis of the bargaining process, the content of the agreement, and the evidence provided by both parties. The final order was that the Enterprise Agreement 2017 be approved and registered, thereby formalising the terms and conditions of employment for the specified groups of employees.

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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