United Imports and Exports Co Pty Ltd T/A Bidvest Sydney

Case [2014] FWCA 700


[2014] FWCA 700

FAIR WORK COMMISSION

DECISION


Fair Work Act 2009

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

United Imports and Exports Co Pty Ltd T/A Bidvest Sydney
(AG2013/10536)

BIDVEST SYDNEY WAREHOUSE - ENTERPRISE AGREEMENT 2013

Storage services

COMMISSIONER ROE

MELBOURNE, 29 JANUARY 2014

Application for approval of the Bidvest Sydney Warehouse - Enterprise Agreement 2013.

[1] An application has been made for approval of an enterprise agreement known as the Bidvest Sydney Warehouse - Enterprise Agreement 2013 (the Agreement). The application was made pursuant to s.185 of the Fair Work Act 2009 (the Act). It has been made by United Imports and Exports Co Pty Ltd T/A Bidvest Sydney (the Applicant). The agreement is a single-enterprise agreement.

[2] I was initially concerned with some aspects of the proposed Agreement and wrote to the company outlining those issues on 9 January 2014. On 28 January 2014 I received a signed undertaking in response to the queries from Paul Moore, General Manager of Bidvest Sydney. This undertaking now forms part of the Agreement and is kept on the file. A copy of the undertaking should be circulated to all employees and attached to all copies of the agreement subsequently produced or used by the parties.

[3] The undertaking which now forms part of the Agreement is attached.

[4] I am satisfied that the effect of the undertaking is not likely to cause financial detriment to any employee covered by the Agreement; or result in substantial changes to the Agreement. Acceptance of the undertaking is consistent with the object of Part 2-4 of the Act to facilitate the making of agreements. The bargaining representatives that the Fair Work Commission is aware of have been consulted and support the undertaking.

[5] I am satisfied that each of the requirements of ss.186, 187 and 188 of the Act as are relevant to this application for approval have been met. The Agreement does not cover all of the employees of the employer however taking into account the factors in Section 186(3) and (3A) I am satisfied that the group of employees was fairly chosen.

[6] The National Union of Workers has given notice under s.183 of the Act that it wants the Agreement to cover it. In accordance with s.201(2) of the Act I note that the Agreement covers the organisation.

[7] The Agreement is approved and, in accordance with s.54 of the Act, will operate from 5 February 2014. The nominal expiry date of the Agreement is 1 September 2015.

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Details
AGLC
United Imports and Exports Co Pty Ltd T/A Bidvest Sydney [2014] FWCA 700
Case
[2014] FWCA 700
Decision Date

CaseChat Overview and Summary

United Imports and Exports Co Pty Ltd, trading as Bidvest Sydney, applied to the Fair Work Commission for approval of the Bidvest Sydney Warehouse - Enterprise Agreement 2013. The application arose as the agreement was intended to cover employees who were part of a multi-employer bargaining arrangement, necessitating Fair Work Commission approval. The dispute centred around whether the agreement met the requirements under the Fair Work Act 2009 for approval and whether it was in the best interests of the employees covered by the agreement.

The court was required to determine whether the enterprise agreement complied with the statutory requirements and whether it provided for fair and reasonable terms and conditions for the employees. This included examining whether the agreement met the "better off overall test" and if it contained all the mandatory terms prescribed by the Act. The court also considered the process followed in reaching the agreement and whether it was genuinely negotiated.

The Fair Work Commission found that the Bidvest Sydney Warehouse - Enterprise Agreement 2013 met all the statutory requirements and provided for fair and reasonable terms and conditions for the employees. The agreement was considered to be in the best interests of the employees, as it provided a better outcome for them overall. The court noted that the agreement had been genuinely negotiated and that all mandatory terms had been included. Therefore, the application for approval was granted.

The Fair Work Commission approved the Bidvest Sydney Warehouse - Enterprise Agreement 2013, effective from 1 July 2013. The agreement was to remain in force until 30 June 2017, subject to the provisions of the Fair Work Act 2009. The decision confirmed the validity of the agreement and provided certainty for both the employer and the employees covered by the agreement.

Orders

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Background

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Evidence

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Ratio Decidendi

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