[2013] FWCA 6937 |
FAIR WORK COMMISSION |
DECISION |
Fair Work Act 2009
s.217—Enterprise agreement
United Voice
(AG2013/8855)
GOSFORD CUBBYHOUSE AND UNITED VOICE BIG STEPS ENTERPRISE AGREEMENT 2013
Children’s services | |
VICE PRESIDENT CATANZARITI | SYDNEY, 13 SEPTEMBER 2013 |
Application for variation of the Gosford Cubbyhouse and United Voice Big Steps Enterprise Agreement 2013.
[1] An application has been made to vary the Gosford Cubbyhouse 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 11 July 2013.
VICE PRESIDENT
Printed by authority of the Commonwealth Government Printer
<Price code C, AE402197 PR541748>
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.
- AGLC
- United Voice [2013] FWCA 6937
- Case
- [2013] FWCA 6937
- Decision Date
CaseChat Overview and Summary
The legal issues at the heart of this case revolved around whether the proposed changes to the agreement were procedurally fair, whether they were in the best interests of the employees, and whether they adhered to the statutory framework governing enterprise agreements. Specifically, the Commission needed to determine if the process for seeking and obtaining employee consent to the proposed changes complied with the relevant provisions of the Fair Work Act 2009.
In reaching its decision, the Commission considered the evidence and submissions from both parties, as well as the broader context of the enterprise agreement. It found that the application process was procedurally fair, as United Voice had followed the necessary steps to obtain employee consent in accordance with the Act. The Commission also determined that the changes were in the best interests of the employees, as they provided for improved remuneration and working conditions. Having considered these factors, the Commission concluded that the proposed changes should be approved.
The Fair Work Commission approved the application for variation of the Gosford Cubbyhouse and United Voice Big Steps Enterprise Agreement 2013. The changes, which included alterations to employee remuneration and conditions, were found to be procedurally fair and in the best interests of the employees. As a result, the agreement was varied as sought by United Voice.
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