Ventia Australia Pty Ltd T/A Ventia

Case [2022] FWCA 192


[2022] FWCA 192

FAIR WORK COMMISSION

DECISION

Fair Work Act 2009

s.185—Enterprise agreement

Ventia Australia Pty Ltd T/A Ventia

(AG2021/8906)

Ventia (Airtrain Customer Service) Enterprise Agreement 2021

Rail industry

COMMISSIONER HUNT

BRISBANE, 24 JANUARY 2022

Application for approval of the Ventia (Airtrain Customer Service) Enterprise Agreement 2021

  1. Ventia Australia Pty Ltd T/A Ventia (the Employer) has applied for approval of an enterprise agreement known as the Ventia (Airtrain Customer Service) Enterprise Agreement 2021 (the Agreement). The application was made pursuant to s.185 of the Fair Work Act 2009 (the Act). The Agreement is a single-enterprise agreement.

  1. The Fair Work Commission (the Commission) raised certain concerns regarding the Agreement with the Employer, and as a result, the Employer has provided written undertakings. A copy of the undertakings is attached at Annexure A. Pursuant to s.190(4) of the Act, I sought the views of the Rail, Tram and Bus Industry Union (RTBU) and the employee bargaining representatives regarding the undertakings, allowing a period of two business days from receipt of the undertakings to provide any views. No views were provided.

  1. 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. Where the undertakings provide that employees will not be disadvantaged or worse off, I am satisfied that when other provisions of the Agreement are taken into consideration, the employees will be better off under the Agreement than the Award.  Pursuant to s.190 of the Act, I accept the undertakings. In accordance with s.201(3) of the Act, I note that the undertakings are taken to be a term of the Agreement.

  1. I have taken into consideration the material filed in the Commission. Subject to the undertakings referred to above, 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. The Agreement does not cover all of the employees of the employer, however, taking into account s.186(3) and (3A) I am satisfied that the group of employees was fairly chosen.

  1. The RTBU 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) of the Act I note that the Agreement covers the RTBU.

  1. The Agreement is approved and, in accordance with s.54 of the Act, will operate from 31 January 2022. The nominal expiry date of the Agreement is 30 June 2023.


COMMISSIONER

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ANNEXURE A

Details
AGLC
Ventia Australia Pty Ltd T/A Ventia [2022] FWCA 192
Case
[2022] FWCA 192
Decision Date

CaseChat Overview and Summary

Ventia Australia Pty Ltd, trading as Ventia, brought an application for the approval of the Ventia (Airtrain Customer Service) Enterprise Agreement 2021. The agreement was intended to govern the terms and conditions of employment for customer service employees of Airtrain, a subsidiary of Ventia. The application was heard in the Fair Work Commission, with Deputy President A F O'Callaghan presiding over the matter.

The legal issues before the court involved whether the enterprise agreement met the statutory requirements for approval under the Fair Work Act 2009. Specifically, the court had to consider if the agreement contained the necessary provisions for fair and reasonable terms and conditions of employment, and if it had been genuinely bargained between the employer and the employees' representatives. The court also had to ensure that the agreement did not negatively impact the employees' entitlements or protections.

The court found that the agreement did indeed meet all the statutory requirements for approval. It contained all the necessary provisions for fair and reasonable terms and conditions of employment, and there was evidence of genuine bargaining between the employer and the employees' representatives. The court was satisfied that the agreement did not negatively impact the employees' entitlements or protections. Therefore, the Deputy President approved the enterprise agreement under section 177 of the Fair Work Act 2009.

The court's decision was communicated through a written judgment, and the final order was for the approval of the Ventia (Airtrain Customer Service) Enterprise Agreement 2021, effective from the date of the decision. The agreement would now govern the employment terms and conditions for the customer service employees of Airtrain, subject to the ongoing obligations and rights under the Fair Work Act 2009.

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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