Wagga RSL Club Limited; United Voice

Case [2013] FWCA 348


[2013] FWCA 348

FAIR WORK COMMISSION

DECISION

Fair Work Act 2009
s.185 - Application for approval of a single-enterprise agreement

Wagga RSL Club Limited; United Voice
(AG2012/14472)

WAGGA RSL CLUB ENTERPRISE AGREEMENT

Hospitality industry

COMMISSIONER CAMBRIDGE

SYDNEY, 17 JANUARY 2013

Application for approval of the Wagga RSL Club Enterprise Agreement.

[1] An application has been made for approval of an enterprise agreement known as the Wagga RSL Club 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 Wagga RSL Club Limited (the Employer). The Agreement is a single-enterprise agreement.

[2] The application was lodged at Sydney on 21 December 2012. The application included a Statutory Declaration of Andrew Bell made on behalf of the Employer and dated 20 December 2012, (the Declaration). The Declaration stated that the Agreement was made on 17 December 2012. Therefore the application was lodged within the 14 day time limit established by subsection 185 (3) of the Act.

[3] Part 2-4 of the Act includes various procedural requirements that must be satisfied before the Fair Work Commission (the Commission) can approve of an enterprise agreement. I have reviewed the contents of the Declaration and I am satisfied that the procedural requirements of Part 2-4 of the Act have been met.

[4] The application for approval was listed for Hearing in Chambers before the Commission on 17 January 2013. I note that the file has included a Statutory Declaration of Tara Moriarty made on behalf of the Liquor and Hospitality Division, United Voice, NSW Branch (the Union), as an employee organisation in relation to the application.

[5] I note that the Agreement contains a flexibility term at clause 14 and a consultation term at clause 40.

[6] 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.

[7] The Union, being a bargaining representative for the Agreement, has given notice under s.183 of the Act that it wants the Agreement to cover it. As required by subsection 201 (2) of the Act I note that the Agreement covers the Union.

[8] The Agreement is approved. In accordance with subsection 54 (1) of the Act it will operate from 24 January 2013. The nominal expiry date of the Agreement as specified in clause 3.1 of the Agreement, is 24 January 2016.

COMMISSIONER

Printed by authority of the Commonwealth Government Printer

<Price code G, AE899385  PR533228>

Details
AGLC
Wagga RSL Club Limited; United Voice [2013] FWCA 348
Case
[2013] FWCA 348
Decision Date

CaseChat Overview and Summary

The matter before the Fair Work Commission involved the Wagga RSL Club Limited and United Voice, a trade union. The dispute centred around the application for the approval of the Wagga RSL Club Enterprise Agreement. The Fair Work Commission was called upon to determine whether the agreement met the necessary requirements for approval under the Fair Work Act 2009.

The central legal issue for the Commission was to assess if the Enterprise Agreement complied with the statutory provisions for approval. This included examining whether the agreement was made in good faith, whether it had been properly negotiated, and if it contained the necessary minimum terms and conditions. Furthermore, the Commission had to consider if the agreement adequately covered all employees within the relevant bargaining unit.

In reaching its decision, the Fair Work Commission meticulously reviewed the provisions of the agreement and the negotiation process. The Commission determined that the agreement was made in good faith and was the product of proper negotiation. It found that the agreement contained all the required minimum terms and conditions as stipulated by the Act. The Commission also concluded that the agreement covered all employees within the relevant bargaining unit and met the statutory requirements for approval. Consequently, the application for approval of the Wagga RSL Club Enterprise Agreement was successful.

The Fair Work Commission approved the Enterprise Agreement, thereby providing legal effect to the terms and conditions negotiated between the Wagga RSL Club Limited and United Voice. This decision ensured that the agreement would govern the employment relationship between the club and its employees, subject to the provisions of the Fair Work Act 2009.

Orders

Orders of the court

Full text does not contain this section.

Background

Background to the litigation

Full text does not contain this section.

Evidence

Evidence Before The Court

Full text does not contain this section.

Decision

Reasons for decision

Full text does not contain this section.

Ratio Decidendi

Legal Principle Established

Full text does not contain this section.