United Voice v Serco Group Pty Ltd (No.3)
[2019] FCCA 1810
•27 June 2019
FEDERAL CIRCUIT COURT OF AUSTRALIA
| UNITED VOICE v SERCO GROUP PTY LTD (No.3) | [2019] FCCA 1810 |
| Catchwords: INDUSTRIAL LAW – Fair Work – contravention of section 44 –Contravention of the National Employment Standards – whether payment should be stayed pending possibility of appeal – stayed except for parties identified. |
| Legislation: Fair Work Australia Act 2009 (Cth) |
| Applicant: | UNITED VOICE |
| Respondent: | SERCO GROUP PTY LTD |
| File Number: | DNG 6 of 2017 |
| Judgment of: | Judge Young |
| Hearing date: | 14 June 2019 |
| Date of Last Submission: | 14 June 2019 |
| Delivered at: | Darwin |
| Orders Pronounced: | 14 June 2019 |
| Delivered on: | 27 June 2019 |
REPRESENTATION
| Counsel for the Applicant: | Mr Bull |
| Solicitors for the Applicant: | United Voice |
| Counsel for the Respondent: | Mr Fernon SC |
| Solicitors for the Respondent: | Baker McKenzie |
ORDERS
The table in the annexure marked “A” is to be substituted for the table included in the order of 10 August 2018.
Pursuant to section 545(1) of the Fair Work Australia Act 2009 (Cth) and within 14 days of the making of this order, the respondent pay to the persons identified in the annexure marked ‘A’ the amounts in the column marked ‘Total.’
Order 2 is stayed in relation to 173 persons person (‘the other persons’) identified in the table at annexure marked ‘A’ but for the following persons identified within the table in bold: Garry Anderson, Victor Andrews, Kamran Azeem, Sheree Baltussen, Troy Gannon, David Hollands, Mehdi Jafari, Abdul Ramaran, Luke Rissman, Michael Skinnon, Zara Thompson Hadley, Lim Van, and Richard Wallington, (‘the Members’).
Interest will continue to accrue in relation to the principal amounts owed to the others persons, subject to any order of the Court.
The applicant is to file and serve any further evidence and written submissions it seeks to rely on by close of business on 1 October 2019.
The Respondent is to file and serve any evidence in reply and written submissions it seeks to rely on by close of business on 8 November 2019.
The matter is adjourned for hearing in relation to any pecuniary penalty order, costs and other final orders on 15 November 2019 at 10.15am (NT time) for two (2) hours in Darwin.
The Parties are granted leave to appear by phone or videolink.
“A”
Affected persons
| Employee's Name | Termination Date | Principal | Interest | Total |
| ACHARYA KAILASH MANI | 31/08/2016 | $594.00 | $92.00 | $686.00 |
| ACHARYA PRAKASH | 31/08/2016 | $719.00 | $111.00 | $830.00 |
| ADAMS DARRYL | 31/07/2016 | $379.00 | $60.00 | $439.00 |
| ADHIKARI JITENDRA | 31/08/2016 | $284.00 | $44.00 | $328.00 |
| ALLCHORNE CARL | 31/07/2016 | $692.00 | $110.00 | $802.00 |
| ANASIS ANNA | 31/07/2016 | $385.00 | $61.00 | $446.00 |
| ANDERSON GARRY | 31/07/2016 | $287.00 | $46.00 | $333.00 |
| ANDREWS VICTOR | 31/07/2016 | $961.00 | $153.00 | $1,114.00 |
| ARYAL LAXMAN | 15/07/2016 | $1,281.00 | $207.00 | $1,488.00 |
| AZEEM KAMRAN | 19/06/2016 | $1,682.00 | $279.00 | $1,961.00 |
| BALTUSSEN SHEREE | 31/08/2016 | $398.00 | $61.00 | $459.00 |
| BELL GEOFFREY | 15/07/2016 | $824.00 | $133.00 | $957.00 |
| BENSON RICHARD | 31/07/2016 | $1,990.00 | $316.00 | $2,306.00 |
| BHANDARI RASHIK | 22/05/2016 | $366.00 | $62.00 | $428.00 |
| BHANDARI RESHAM | 31/08/2016 | $1,799.00 | $277.00 | $2,076.00 |
| BOHORA NAGENDRA | 07/07/2016 | $793.00 | $129.00 | $922.00 |
| BRANCO ROGERIO | 22/05/2016 | $101.00 | $17.00 | $118.00 |
| BRANDER LIAM | 31/07/2016 | $616.00 | $98.00 | $714.00 |
| BULL KENNETH | 07/06/2016 | $624.00 | $105.00 | $729.00 |
| BULURAN MELCHONA | 31/08/2016 | $765.00 | $118.00 | $883.00 |
| BURCHELL BENJAMIN | 15/07/2016 | $754.00 | $122.00 | $876.00 |
| BURGESS DANIELLA | 30/06/2016 | $172.00 | $28.00 | $200.00 |
| BURLING DON | 14/06/2016 | $440.00 | $73.00 | $513.00 |
| BUTLER BARBARA | 31/08/2016 | $757.00 | $117.00 | $874.00 |
| CAFFREY CRAIG | 26/06/2016 | $774.00 | $127.00 | $901.00 |
| CAPUYAN JENEVIE | 19/06/2016 | $647.00 | $107.00 | $754.00 |
| CHALISE SUSHIL | 07/06/2016 | $1,108.00 | $186.00 | $1,294.00 |
| CHANDRAN VIPIN | 31/08/2016 | $615.00 | $95.00 | $710.00 |
| CHAULAGAIN AWAN | 31/08/2016 | $1,014.00 | $156.00 | $1,170.00 |
| CHERIAN ROMY | 07/06/2016 | $344.00 | $58.00 | $402.00 |
| CHHETRI BISHNU | 12/06/2016 | $149.00 | $25.00 | $174.00 |
| CHHETRI DEEPERSAN | 31/08/2016 | $746.00 | $115.00 | $861.00 |
| CHHETRI SHUSHIL | 12/06/2016 | $374.00 | $62.00 | $436.00 |
| CHOL KILOGE | 31/07/2016 | $1,768.00 | $281.00 | $2,049.00 |
| CLARK TED | 31/07/2016 | $959.00 | $152.00 | $1,111.00 |
| COLLIS WASSANA | 07/06/2016 | $252.00 | $42.00 | $294.00 |
| CONDON DANIEL | 31/07/2016 | $1,046.00 | $166.00 | $1,212.00 |
| CONNOR JENNY | 29/05/2016 | $96.00 | $16.00 | $112.00 |
| CROKE JAMES | 31/08/2016 | $281.00 | $43.00 | $324.00 |
| DEILAMI KHOOZESTANI RAJA | 15/07/2016 | $943.00 | $152.00 | $1,095.00 |
| DUMBLETON HEINZ | 31/07/2016 | $1,036.00 | $165.00 | $1,201.00 |
| EDWARDS GEORGE | 05/06/2016 | $376.00 | $63.00 | $439.00 |
| EVANS KATHERINE | 15/07/2016 | $746.00 | $121.00 | $867.00 |
| FARMER MITCHELL | 31/08/2016 | $495.00 | $76.00 | $571.00 |
| FARQUHAR DONALD | 31/08/2016 | $382.00 | $59.00 | $441.00 |
| FERNADE INGGRIT | 29/05/2016 | $121.00 | $21.00 | $142.00 |
| FINESTONE MARK | 29/05/2016 | $356.00 | $60.00 | $416.00 |
| FOUNTAIN ALAN | 19/06/2016 | $461.00 | $76.00 | $537.00 |
| FOWLER SUPHATTRA | 07/06/2016 | $359.00 | $60.00 | $419.00 |
| FOX GAVIN | 07/06/2016 | $579.00 | $97.00 | $676.00 |
| FRANEY TEENA | 26/06/2016 | $32.00 | $5.00 | $37.00 |
| GADISCHKIE SANDRA | 08/07/2016 | $1,327.00 | $216.00 | $1543.00 |
| GANNON TROY | 31/07/2016 | $229.00 | $36.00 | $265.00 |
| GAUTAM DEEPAK | 31/08/2016 | $978.00 | $151.00 | $1,129.00 |
| GAUTAM VISHMA | 31/08/2016 | $850.00 | $131.00 | $981.00 |
| GAVINO GILBERT | 19/06/2016 | $1,026.00 | $170.00 | $1,196.00 |
| GERONG JAM | 31/08/2016 | $388.00 | $60.00 | $448.00 |
| GHANSEMI NEJAD ZAHRA | 31/08/2016 | $353.00 | $54.00 | $407.00 |
| GHIMIRE KISHORE | 15/07/2016 | $1,097.00 | $177.00 | $1,274.00 |
| GILES RACHAEL | 31/08/2016 | $930.00 | $143.00 | $1,073.00 |
| GRAY DAVID | 07/06/2016 | $511.00 | $86.00 | $597.00 |
| GUO CHEN | 15/07/2016 | $380.00 | $61.00 | $441.00 |
| GURUNG ANDREW | 08/09/2016 | $562.00 | $86.00 | $648.00 |
| GURUNG BISHAL | 12/06/2016 | $490.00 | $82.00 | $572.00 |
| HAMILTON JERRALD | 07/06/2016 | $341.00 | $57.00 | $398.00 |
| HARBOUR JOHN | 31/07/2016 | $1,075.00 | $171.00 | $1,246.00 |
| HART MELANIE | 22/05/2016 | $452.00 | $77.00 | $529.00 |
| HAZEL KENNETH | 24/06/2016 | $3.00 | $0.00 | $3.00 |
| HENSLER JOSEPHINE | 07/06/2016 | $152.00 | $25.00 | $177.00 |
| HERBIG AARON | 19/07/2016 | $624.00 | $100.00 | $724.00 |
| HOLLANDS DAVID | 07/06/2016 | $225.00 | $38.00 | $263.00 |
| HONEYBUN KAYE | 26/06/2016 | $852.00 | $140.00 | $992.00 |
| IBASCO CHEYENNE | 19/06/2016 | $1,198.00 | $198.00 | $1,396.00 |
| IKHTIAR QURBAN | 31/10/2016 | $1,125.00 | $163.00 | $1,288.00 |
| ISMINARTI ISMINARTI | 31/08/2016 | $479.00 | $74.00 | $553.00 |
| JAFARI MEHDI (aka MOHAMMAD) | 31/07/2016 | $1,055.00 | $168.00 | $1,223.00 |
| JONES NEIL | 08/0/72016 | $567.00 | $92.00 | $659.00 |
| JONES WENDY | 31/08/2016 | $650.00 | $100.00 | $750.00 |
| JOSHI GAURANG | 07/06/2016 | $387.00 | $65.00 | $452.00 |
| JOYA CINA | 22/05/2016 | $391.00 | $67.00 | $458.00 |
| KANDEL KAMAL | 12/06/2016 | $463.00 | $77.00 | $540.00 |
| KANE JULIE | 01/07/2016 | $700.00 | $115.00 | $815.00 |
| KARKI DHRUBA | 01/07/2016 | $776.00 | $127.00 | $903.00 |
| KARRI V S VIJAYA KUMAR | 07/06/2016 | $520.00 | $87.00 | $607.00 |
| KAUR GURPREET | 15/07/2016 | $1295.00 | $209.00 | $1,504.00 |
| KEENE MICHAEL | 19/06/2016 | $560.00 | $93.00 | $653.00 |
| KHADKA PABITRA | 19/06/2016 | $508.00 | $84.00 | $592.00 |
| KHADKA SUMAN | 15/07/2016 | $970.00 | $157.00 | $1,127.00 |
| KHAN ABIR | 15/07/2016 | $1,175.00 | $190.00 | $1,365.00 |
| KHANAL DHARANISH | 19/06/2016 | $1,248.00 | $207.00 | $1,455.00 |
| KNIGHTON MARK | 19/06/2016 | $752.00 | $125.00 | $877.00 |
| KU ALVIN | 31/08/2016 | $486.00 | $75.00 | $561.00 |
| KUMAR SANDEEP | 12/06/2016 | $295.00 | $49.00 | $344.00 |
| KUMAR SIVAPRAKASH | 07/06/2016 | $522.00 | $87.00 | $609.00 |
| KUT ABRAHAM | 29/05/2016 | $53.00 | $9.00 | $62.00 |
| KWAI DAVID | 12/07/2016 | $1,044.00 | $169.00 | $1,213.00 |
| LAMICHHANE DEV RAJ | 07/06/2016 | $1,069.00 | $179.00 | $1,248.00 |
| LE TAN | 31/08/2016 | $425.00 | $65.00 | $490.00 |
| LEAVOLD ANNAMODE | 07/06/2016 | $115.00 | $19.00 | $134.00 |
| LEGG AMANDA | 19/06/2016 | $391.00 | $65.00 | $456.00 |
| LIM DANIEL | 31/08/2016 | $426.00 | $66.00 | $492.00 |
| LOWE DONNA | 31/07/2016 | $341.00 | $54.00 | $395.00 |
| MAGODORA HAPPSON | 15/07/2016 | $927.00 | $150.00 | $1,077.00 |
| MAGTOTO ALFREDO | 31/08/2016 | $860.00 | $133.00 | $993.00 |
| MAGTOTO ELVIRA | 31/08/2016 | $688.00 | $106.00 | $794.00 |
| MAHAL POONAM | 22/05/2016 | $551.00 | $94.00 | $645.00 |
| MAHAL RAVINDER | 07/06/2016 | $755.00 | $127.00 | $882.00 |
| MAMMAN DENNIS | 19/06/2016 | $563.00 | $93.00 | $656.00 |
| MATHEWS ALICE | 18/08/2016 | $639.00 | $100.00 | $739.00 |
| MCCALLUM MARK | 26/06/2016 | $690.00 | $114.00 | $804.00 |
| MCCORMACK LEIGH | 22/05/2016 | $258.00 | $44.00 | $302.00 |
| MINCHELLA MARIA | 31/08/2016 | $836.00 | $129.00 | $965.00 |
| MIRZA ZUBAIR | 22/05/2016 | $417.00 | $71.00 | $488.00 |
| MISIMAKE LINDA | 31/08/2016 | $280.00 | $43.00 | $323.00 |
| MONDAL DEB DULAL | 31/08/2016 | $1,259.00 | $194.00 | $1,453.00 |
| MONDOL JOY | 31/08/2016 | $1,137.00 | $175.00 | $1,312.00 |
| MUCHYA NAVEEN | 31/08/2016 | $872.00 | $134.00 | $1,006.00 |
| MYLCHREEST WARWICK | 06/06/2016 | $148.00 | $25.00 | $173.00 |
| NAIDU ROSHNI | 31/08/2016 | $217.00 | $34.00 | $251.00 |
| NDAOMANU YOANITA | 07/06/2016 | $559.00 | $94.00 | $653.00 |
| NGUYEN DAC | 31/07/2016 | $885.00 | $141.00 | $1,026.00 |
| OLSEN MATHEW | 01/07/2016 | $857.00 | $140.00 | $997.00 |
| PADUA ARAM | 30/06/2016 | $65.00 | $11.00 | $76.00 |
| PANNEER SELVAM MUTHUKUMARA | 19/06/2016 | $685.00 | $114.00 | $799.00 |
| PARRY JEFFREY | 24/06/2016 | $298.00 | $49.00 | $347.00 |
| PATEL VAISHALI | 22/07/2016 | $448.00 | $72.00 | $520.00 |
| PAUDEL RAJENDRA | 19/06/2016 | $1,098.00 | $182.00 | $1,280.00 |
| PAYNE ASHLEY | 26/06/2016 | $950.00 | $156.00 | $1,106.00 |
| PHOOPHAPLOY MONTATIP | 07/06/2016 | $67.00 | $11.00 | $78.00 |
| PIOK JOHN | 15/07/2016 | $787.00 | $127.00 | $914.00 |
| PONIRIS GEORGE | 31/07/2016 | $71.00 | $11.00 | $82.00 |
| PONNARIKIZHAKKAYIL GOPINATHA | 31/08/2016 | $291.00 | $45.00 | $336.00 |
| PUN HEM | 31/08/2016 | $1,739.00 | $268.00 | $2,007.00 |
| RAMAMOORTHY RAMNATH | 31/10/2016 | $1,395.00 | $202.00 | $1,597.00 |
| RAMARAN ABDUL | 31/07/2016 | $15.00 | $2.00 | $17.00 |
| RANSON HARRISON | 19/06/2016 | $497.00 | $82.00 | $579.00 |
| RANSON SAMANTHA | 19/06/2016 | $33.00 | $5.00 | $38.00 |
| RANWA BHANWAR | 19/06/2016 | $677.00 | $112.00 | $789.00 |
| RAVEN MOANA | 19/06/2016 | $415.00 | $69.00 | $484.00 |
| REILLY ANNETTE | 31/07/2016 | $714.00 | $114.00 | $828.00 |
| RICHARDS GERARD | 15/07/2016 | $355.00 | $57.00 | $412.00 |
| RIMAL SANTOSH | 19/06/2016 | $862.00 | $143.00 | $1,005.00 |
| RISSMAN LUKE | 01/07/2016 | $1,698.00 | $278.00 | $1,976.00 |
| ROBBINS DARRYL | 31/07/2016 | $1,021.00 | $162.00 | $1,183.00 |
| RUFINO ALICE | 31/07/2016 | $714.00 | $113.00 | $827.00 |
| SAHID KAMSIN | 15/07/2016 | $330.00 | $53.00 | $383.00 |
| SANKARARAMAN CHANDRASEKAR | 15/07/2016 | $793.00 | $128.00 | $921.00 |
| SAYER SYLVIA | 26/06/2016 | $954.00 | $157.00 | $1,111.00 |
| SHANMUGAM DEENA | 08/07/2016 | $853.00 | $139.00 | $992.00 |
| SHARMA CHANDER | 31/08/2016 | $1,298.00 | $200.00 | $1,498.00 |
| SHARMA HEMANT | 22/05/2016 | $595.00 | $101.00 | $696.00 |
| SHARMA PUJA | 22/07/2016 | $1,169.00 | $188.00 | $1,357.00 |
| SHELLCOT JOANNE | 20/06/2016 | $1,182.00 | $196.00 | $1,378.00 |
| SHERIDAN PATRICK | 15/07/2016 | $416.00 | $67.00 | $483.00 |
| SHERRY LYNTON | 31/08/2016 | $716.00 | $110.00 | $826.00 |
| SHRESTHA ARPAN | 15/06/2016 | $495.00 | $82.00 | $577.00 |
| SHRESTHA SUJAN | 31/08/2016 | $2,137.00 | $329.00 | $2,466.00 |
| SHRESTHA SUSHIL | 01/07/2016 | $156.00 | $26.00 | $182.00 |
| SHRESTHA UMESH | 24/06/2016 | $1,917.00 | $316.00 | $2,233.00 |
| SINGAL NIPUN | 09/08/2016 | $726.00 | $114.00 | $840.00 |
| SINGH AMRIK | 20/06/2016 | $263.00 | $44.00 | $307.00 |
| SINGH INDERJEET | 08/07/2016 | $914.00 | $149.00 | $1,063.00 |
| SKINNON MICHAEL | 28/11/2016 | $976.00 | $137.00 | $1,113.00 |
| SLEVIN MICHELLE | 08/07/2016 | $672.00 | $109.00 | $781.00 |
| SMITH PENELOPE | 22/07/2016 | $339.00 | $54.00 | $393.00 |
| SMITH WADE | 15/07/2016 | $242.00 | $39.00 | $281.00 |
| SPEAK STEPHEN | 31/08/2016 | $1,578.00 | $243.00 | $1,821.00 |
| STEWART GRAEME | 31/10/2016 | $1,299.00 | $188.00 | $1,487.00 |
| TE AHO BASIL | 26/06/2016 | $438.00 | $72.00 | $510.00 |
| THAKUR HEMLATA | 07/06/2016 | $232.00 | $39.00 | $271.00 |
| THAPA BIJAY | 07/06/2016 | $429.00 | $72.00 | $501.00 |
| THAPA PURAN | 01/07/2016 | $776.00 | $127.00 | $903.00 |
| THOMPSON-HADLEY ZARA | 31/08/2016 | $1,997.00 | $308.00 | $2,305.00 |
| VAN JI LIM | 31/07/2016 | $1,497.00 | $238.00 | $1,735.00 |
| WALI REVANASIDDAPPA | 22/05/2016 | $327.00 | $56.00 | $383.00 |
| WALLINGTON RICHARD | 07/06/2016 | $550.00 | $92.00 | $642.00 |
| WATTS COREY | 15/07/2016 | $623.00 | $101.00 | $724.00 |
| WHAKAUE DAPHINE | 16/08/2016 | $483.00 | $76.00 | $559.00 |
| WILLIAMS LINDA | 31/08/2016 | $280.00 | $43.00 | $323.00 |
| WILLIAMS VANESSA | 31/08/2016 | $274.00 | $42.00 | $316.00 |
| WILSON DAVID | 22/06/2016 | $26.00 | $4.00 | $30.00 |
| WILSON SHARYN | 31/08/2016 | $640.00 | $99.00 | $739.00 |
| WOODFORD RUSSELL | 30/09/2016 | $747.00 | $112.00 | $859.00 |
| YUNGU SONGA | 29/05/2016 | $257.00 | $43.00 | $300.00 |
| ZEUSCHNER CAMERON | 22/05/2016 | $189.00 | $32.00 | $221.00 |
| ZHU JINSONG | 19/06/2016 | $1,730.00 | $287.00 | $2,017.00 |
| Total | $126,361.00 | $20,239.00 | $146,600.00 |
| FEDERAL CIRCUIT COURT OF AUSTRALIA AT DARWIN |
DNG 6 of 2017
| UNITED VOICE |
Applicant
And
| SERCO GROUP PTY LTD |
Respondent
REASONS FOR JUDGMENT
On 10 August 2018 I made a declaratory order that the respondent contrary to section 44 of the Fair Work Act 2009 had contravened a provision of the National Employment Standards by failing to pay 13 employees amounts due to them under an enterprise agreement. On 12 December 2018 I made orders (“the audit orders”) intended to enable the identification by name of other employees of the respondent affected by its contravention.
The respondent has now largely complied with the audit orders (the exception appears to be an aspect of Order 1(h) which is discussed further below). As a result, in addition to the 13 employees originally identified as affected by the respondent’s contravention, another 173 such employees have been identified. Further, the parties have agreed on the amounts owed to all employees (including the original 13 employees), including amounts for interest accrued to 14 June 2019. In relation to the employees, including the original 13, the figures have been rounded to the nearest dollar and to include interest. It was the agreed position of the parties that the latest figures for all affected employees should be substituted for the figures for the original 13 employees included in the order of 10 August 2018.
Accordingly, I propose to order that the latest figures should be substituted for table included in the order of 10 August 2018.
A further issue raised by the respondent was that it sought to have any orders for payment stayed pending consideration of a foreshadowed or possible appeal against the orders made in this proceeding. The orders proposed to be appealed, if any, were not specifically identified. I did not receive any submissions about the merits of the possible appeal or detailed submissions about other matters, such as balance of convenience, which would normally figure in a stay application.
In those circumstances a stay application would ordinarily have little prospect of success. However, in this case one matter that has not yet been resolved is how the other 173 employees are to be paid the amounts owed to them. This is the aspect of Order 1(h) referred to above. The applicant does not have contact details for them. It is unclear if the respondent still has contact details for them, although it might be expected to have the bank account details it used to pay them when they were employees. I have asked the parties to discuss this issue and, if possible, offer a solution. Until that has happened I consider that the order in respect of the other 173 employees should be stayed until further order.
There is no good reason in my view to stay the orders in respect of the original 13 employees. The total amount owed, in the order of $11,000 with interest, is relatively modest and unlikely to constitute real inconvenience to the respondent even if it were not recoverable following a successful (possible) appeal. These amounts are to be paid to the 13 employees within 14 days.
Regrettably, because of the pressure of other business of the court, it was not possible to deal with the question of penalty today and that will be adjourned.
I certify that the preceding seven (7) paragraphs are a true copy of the reasons for judgment of Judge Young
Date: 27 June 2019
CORRECTIONS:
28 June 2019 – Added “Orders Pronounced” date; corrected “fair works” to “fair work” in catchwords.
0
2