DECISION

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

West Lakes Golf Club Incorporated
(AG2017/6341)

WEST LAKES GOLF CLUB ENTERPRISE AGREEMENT 2017

Licensed and registered clubs
COMMISSIONER CAMBRIDGE	SYDNEY, 22 JUNE 2018

Application for approval of the West Lakes Golf Club Enterprise Agreement 2017.

[1] An application has been made for approval of an enterprise agreement known as the West Lakes Golf Club Enterprise Agreement 2017 (the Agreement). The application was made pursuant to s. 185 of the Fair Work Act 2009 (the Act). It has been made by West Lakes Golf Club Incorporated (the Employer). The Agreement is a single-enterprise agreement.

[2] The application was lodged with the Fair Work Commission (the Commission) at Adelaide on 16 December 2017. On 30 April 2018, the application was referred to the Commission as currently constituted. The application included a Statutory Declaration of Paul Curtis made on behalf of the Employer and dated 13 December 2017 (the Declaration). The Declaration stated that the Agreement was made on 13 December 2017. Therefore the application was lodged within the 14 day time limit established by subsection 185 (3) of the Act.

[3] The Commission identified various issues relating to aspects of the application including the contents of certain terms contained in the Agreement, which required clarification. The Employer was advised of these concerns and invited to provide a response.

[4] The Commission has received correspondence dated 14 June 2018, from the Employer which included further material in support of the application together with Undertakings made by and duly signed by the Employer, and proposed to the Commission pursuant to s. 190 of the Act (the Undertakings).

[5] Part 2-4 of the Act includes various procedural requirements that must be satisfied before the Commission can approve of an enterprise agreement. I have reviewed the contents of the Declaration, the further material in support of the application and the Undertakings. As a result of the consideration of these materials I am satisfied that, inter alia, the procedural requirements of Part 2-4 of the Act have been met.

[6] The application for approval was listed for Hearing in Chambers before the Commission on 22 June 2018. I note that the file has included a Statutory Declaration of Gary Henderson made on behalf of The Australian Workers’ Union (the AWU), as an employee organisation in relation to the application.

[7] I note that the Agreement contains a flexibility term at clause 3.3 and a consultation terms at clauses 2.4 and 3.1.

[8] I am prepared to accept the Undertakings. As provided by s. 191 of the Act, the Undertakings are taken to be terms of the Agreement. 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.

[9] The AWU, 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 AWU.

[10] The Agreement as varied by the Undertakings is approved. In accordance with subsection 54 (1) of the Act it will operate from 29 June 2018. The nominal expiry date of the Agreement as specified in clause 1.3.1 of the Agreement, is 15 November 2019.

COMMISSIONER

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In the Fair Work Commission, West Lakes Golf Club Incorporated applied for approval of the West Lakes Golf Club Enterprise Agreement 2017. The application was made by the employer, who argued that the agreement was fair and reasonable. The Fair Work Commission was required to determine whether the agreement met the criteria for approval as set out in the Fair Work Act 2009. Specifically, the Commission had to consider whether the agreement was in the best interests of the employees and whether it contained provisions that were fair and reasonable in all respects.

The Commission noted that the agreement contained provisions on wages, conditions of employment, and dispute resolution. The Commission considered whether the provisions were fair and reasonable in the context of the enterprise and the bargaining positions of the parties. The Commission also considered whether the agreement provided for a fair and reasonable process for resolving disputes between the parties. After considering the evidence and submissions, the Commission found that the agreement was fair and reasonable in all respects. The Commission approved the agreement, and it will now be binding on the parties.

The Commission noted that the agreement provided for a fair and reasonable process for resolving disputes, and that the provisions on wages and conditions of employment were reasonable. The Commission also noted that the agreement contained provisions on flexible working arrangements, which were beneficial to both the employer and the employees. The Commission was satisfied that the agreement met the criteria for approval and was in the best interests of the employees. The Fair Work Commission approved the West Lakes Golf Club Enterprise Agreement 2017.

West Lakes Golf Club Incorporated

DECISION

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