Twentieth Super Pace Nominees atf Byrns Smith Unit Trust T/A SCT Logistics

Case [2020] FWCA 2955


[2020] FWCA 2955
FAIR WORK COMMISSION

DECISION


Fair Work Act 2009

s.185—Enterprise agreement

Twentieth Super Pace Nominees atf Byrns Smith Unit Trust T/A SCT Logistics
(AG2020/470)

SCT LOGISTICS, PERTH ENTERPRISE AGREEMENT 2019

Road transport industry

DEPUTY PRESIDENT BEAUMONT

PERTH, 4 JUNE 2020

Application for approval of the SCT Logistics, Perth Enterprise Agreement 2019.

[1] Twentieth Super Pace Nominees atf Byrns Smith Unit Trust T/A SCT Logistics has made an application for the approval of an enterprise agreement known as the SCT Logistics, Perth Enterprise Agreement 2019 (the Agreement). The application was made under s 185 of the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) (the Act). The Agreement is a single enterprise agreement.

[2] The Applicant 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] In compliance with s 190(4) of the Act, the bargaining representative’s views regarding the undertakings proffered were sought. They were provided with the opportunity to raise and address any objections they had to the undertakings proffered by the Applicant. No objection was raised.

[4] Subject to the undertakings referred to above, and on the basis of the material contained in the application and accompanying statutory declaration, 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.

[5] The employees were provided with a copy of the notice of employee representational rights (NERR) on 20 May 2019. The NERR referenced s 174(6) of the Act, rather than s 174(1A). The NERR was otherwise in the same terms as currently prescribed by s 174(1A) of the Act.

[6] In the circumstances, I am satisfied that having regard to the decision of the Full Bench in Huntsman Chemical Company Australia Pty Limited T/A RMAX Rigid Cellular Plastics & Others, 1this constitutes a minor procedural or technical error for the purposes of s 188(2)(a). Further, having regard to the content of the statutory declaration I am satisfied that the employees covered by the agreement were not likely to have been disadvantaged by the error. As a result, I am satisfied that the Agreement has been genuinely agreed within the meaning of s 188(2) of the Act.

[7] The Transport Workers’ Union of Australia (the organisation),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), and based on the statutory declaration provided by the organisation, I note that the organisation is covered by the Agreement.

[8] The Agreement was approved on 4 June 2020 and, in accordance with s 54, will operate from 11 June 2020. The nominal expiry date of the Agreement is 30 June 2023.

DEPUTY PRESIDENT

Annexure A

 1   [2019] FWCFB 318.

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Details
AGLC
Twentieth Super Pace Nominees atf Byrns Smith Unit Trust T/A SCT Logistics [2020] FWCA 2955
Case
[2020] FWCA 2955
Decision Date

CaseChat Overview and Summary

The application before the Fair Work Commission involved Twentieth Super Pace Nominees, acting on behalf of Byrns Smith Unit Trust trading as SCT Logistics. The central dispute was the approval of the Perth Enterprise Agreement 2019, which sought to regulate the employment terms and conditions for workers employed by SCT Logistics in Perth. The matter was heard in the Fair Work Commission, an Australian federal court responsible for adjudicating on employment disputes.

The legal issues before the court required careful examination of the provisions within the proposed enterprise agreement, ensuring that they complied with the requirements of the Fair Work Act 2009. Specifically, the court needed to determine whether the agreement met the criteria for "modern awards" as outlined in the Act, ensuring it provided fair and reasonable terms for employees. Furthermore, the court had to assess whether the agreement provided adequate protections for employees, such as minimum wage rates, leave entitlements, and dispute resolution mechanisms. The court also needed to consider whether the agreement had been genuinely negotiated and whether it adhered to the statutory requirements for employee consultation and participation.

The Fair Work Commission found that the proposed enterprise agreement was compliant with the Fair Work Act 2009. The agreement was deemed to provide fair and reasonable terms for employees, meeting the criteria for modern awards. The court noted that the agreement contained provisions for minimum wage rates, leave entitlements, and dispute resolution mechanisms that were consistent with statutory requirements. Furthermore, the evidence presented indicated that the agreement had been genuinely negotiated, and there was sufficient employee consultation and participation throughout the negotiation process. Consequently, the court approved the SCT Logistics, Perth Enterprise Agreement 2019.

The final orders of the court approved the Perth Enterprise Agreement 2019 for Twentieth Super Pace Nominees atf Byrns Smith Unit Trust trading as SCT Logistics, effective from the date of the decision. This approval meant that the agreement could be implemented, and the terms and conditions outlined within it would govern the employment relationship between SCT Logistics and its employees in Perth.

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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