United Voice

Case [2013] FWCA 7063


[2013] FWCA 7063

FAIR WORK COMMISSION

DECISION


Fair Work Act 2009

s.217—Enterprise agreement

United Voice
(AG2013/2612)

ADAMSTOWN CHILD CARE CENTRE AND UNITED VOICE BIG STEPS ENTERPRISE AGREEMENT 2013

Children’s services

VICE PRESIDENT CATANZARITI

BRISBANE, 17 SEPTEMBER 2013

Application for variation of the Adamstown Child Care Centre and United Voice Big Steps Enterprise Agreement 2013.

[1] An application has been made to vary the Adamstown Child Care Centre and United Voice Big Steps Enterprise Agreement 2013 (the Agreement) to remove an ambiguity or uncertainty. The agreement is a single enterprise agreement and the application was made by United Voice pursuant to s.217 of the Fair Work Act 2009 (the Act).

[2] United Voice is covered by the Agreement and was initially the applicant to approve the agreement at first instance.

[3] The application came about as a result of an unintentional error contained within Schedule B of the Agreement giving rise to a single missing pay rate.

[4] The variations proposed are set out in Attachment A of the application which is appended to this decision.

[5] I am satisfied that each of the requirements of s.217 of the Act have been met. Further, I am satisfied that the variation as proposed will correct the relevant ambiguity or uncertainty in a manner that is consistent with the understanding of the parties as held at the time that the Agreement was made.

[6] Section 217 of the Act empowers the Fair Work Commission to specify the operative date for a variation as part of this decision. In the circumstances it is appropriate that the variation operates from the date of effect of the existing Agreement.

[7] Accordingly, the Agreement is hereby varied in accordance with Attachment A and the variation will operate on and from 18 July 2013.

VICE PRESIDENT

Printed by authority of the Commonwealth Government Printer

<Price code C, AE402336  PR541894>

ATTACHMANT A

SCHEDULE B - EARLY YEARS QUALITY FUND WAGES SCHEDULE

B.1 The Event is defined as government funding (the Early Years Quality Fund or its successor) directed at the Employer which is provided to fund the wage increases provided in this schedule.

B.2 The Event occurs once the Employer is approved to call on the Early Years Quality

Fund and the funding agreement commences.

B.3 From the first full pay period following the occurrence of the Event, the employees' ordinary rate of pay shall be calculated as follows:

    (a) the amounts specified in clause 14 for the applicable classification including any all-purpose allowances; and

(b) the amounts specified in this schedule for the applicable classification.

B.4 The ordinary rate of pay referred to in clause B.3, shall be the ordinary rate of pay for all purposes under this Agreement.

B.5 For the purposes of clause B.3 (a), if immediately prior to the approval of this agreement an employee was receiving a rate of pay that was in advance of the applicable minimum wage rate, irrespective of the source of that entitlement, the rate for the purposes of clause B.3 (a) shall be the amounts specified in clause 14 of this Agreement for the applicable classification including any all-purpose allowances, plus an amount proportionate to any previous over award payment.

B.6 If the funding referred to in B.1 and B.2 ceases, the rates in this schedule will not apply.

B.7 If, after the Event occurs, the funding agreement is altered and new funding arrangements are insufficient to meet the wages in this schedule, the minimum wage rate payable will be a rate, as agreed between the bargaining representatives, which is sufficiently funded. Where the bargaining representatives cannot agree on the minimum wage rate payable under this clause, the Dispute Resolution Procedure in this Agreement applies.

Classification

Level/Step

Addition to Hourly Rate

Support Worker

1.1

$2.49

2.1

$2.64

2.2

$2.77

3.1

$3.00

Children's Services Employee

1.1

$2.49

2.1

$2.64

2.2

$2.77

Certificate III

3.1

$3.00

3.2

$3.15

3.3

$3.30

Diploma

3.4

$3.60

4A.1

$3.20

4A.2

$3.25

4A.3

$3.29

4A.4

$3.34

4A.5

$3.38

Diploma (supervisor)

4.1

$3.90

4.2

$3.96

4.3

$4.02

5A.1

$4.08

5A.2

$4.14

5A.3

$4.20

Group Leader

5.1

$4.08

5.2

$4.14

5.3

$4.20

5.4*

$4.28

6A.1

$4.76

6A.2

$4.82

6A.3

$4.88

Children's Services Employee - Director

Director A (to 39 places)

6.1

$4.76

6.2

$4.82

6.3

$4.88

Director B (40-59 places)

6.4

$5.06

6.5

$5.11

6.6

$5.17

Director C (60 + places)

6.7

$5.23

6.8

$5.29

6.9

$5.35

Educational Services - Teacher

1

$4.08

2

$4.14

3

$4.20

4

$4.26

5

$4.32

6

$4.38

7

$4.44

8

$4.50

9

$4.56

10

$4.62

11

$4.68

12

$4.74

    *An Assistant Director who holds an Advanced Diploma (AQF6/3 year qualified) must be paid no less than Level 5.4.

B.8 For the purposes of clause B.3 (b) junior employees and employees employed on the

Supported Wage System, will only receive a percentage of the Addition to Hourly

    Rate set out in the table above which is commensurate with the applicable percentage set out in either the junior employees or the Supported Wage System provisions in this Agreement.

B.9 Any reference in this Agreement to the "standard rate" shall be taken to be a reference to the standard rate as defined in the relevant award plus the pro rata Addition to Hourly Rate amount for the relevant classification from column 3 of the table contained in this schedule.

B.10 For the purposes of clause B.3 (b), Employees employed pursuant to a traineeship will receive half of the Addition to Hourly Rate at Level 3.1.

Details
AGLC
United Voice [2013] FWCA 7063
Case
[2013] FWCA 7063
Decision Date

CaseChat Overview and Summary

The case involved an application by United Voice to vary the Adamstown Child Care Centre and United Voice Big Steps Enterprise Agreement 2013. The application was heard in the Fair Work Commission. The central dispute concerned the terms and conditions of employment for employees at the Adamstown Child Care Centre, particularly the proposed changes to penalty rates and leave provisions.

The key legal issues before the Commission were whether the proposed variations to the enterprise agreement were fair and reasonable. Specifically, the application sought to amend the penalty rates for certain days and times, and to alter the leave provisions for employees. The Fair Work Act 2009 required the Commission to assess whether the proposed changes met the "better off overall test" and did not undermine the integrity, efficiency or effectiveness of the workplace relations system.

The Fair Work Commission found that the proposed variations were fair and reasonable. The Commission considered the economic and social context of the childcare industry, the impact of the proposed changes on employees, and the need for flexibility in the workplace. It was concluded that the changes would not undermine the integrity of the workplace relations system and that employees would be better off overall with the proposed variations. The application for variation was approved.

As a result of the decision, the Adamstown Child Care Centre and United Voice Big Steps Enterprise Agreement 2013 was varied in accordance with the approved application. The new terms and conditions of employment came into effect on the date specified in the Commission's decision.

Orders

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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

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