Wood Australia Pty Ltd T/A Wood Australia

[2021] FWCA 6471

[2021] FWCA 6471

FAIR WORK COMMISSION

DECISION

Fair Work Act 2009
s.185—Enterprise agreement

Wood Australia Pty Ltd T/A Wood Australia
(AG2021/7851)

WOOD ONSHORE/OFFSHORE FACILITIES INSTRUMENT-ELECTRICAL (ETU) CONSTRUCTION AGREEMENT 2021

Building, metal and civil construction industries
COMMISSIONER HUNT	BRISBANE, 2 NOVEMBER 2021

Application for approval of the Wood Onshore/Offshore Facilities Instrument-Electrical (ETU) Construction Agreement 2021.

[1] Wood Australia Pty Ltd T/A Wood Australia (the Employer) has applied for approval of an enterprise agreement known as the Wood Onshore/Offshore Facilities Instrument-Electrical (ETU) Construction 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.

[2] 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 Communications, Electrical, Electronic, Energy, Information, Postal, Plumbing and Allied Services Union of Australia (CEPU) regarding the undertakings, allowing a period of two business days from receipt of the undertakings to provide any views. The Employer, when filing the undertakings, informed the Commission that the CEPU was supportive of the undertakings. The CEPU was copied into the correspondence and did not object.

[3] 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. 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.

[4] 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.

[5] I indicated to the Employer my view that the Agreement’s existing flexibility term did not meet the requirements of s.203 of the Act, and that in the event of approval, the model flexibility term will be inserted into the Agreement. Pursuant to s.202(4) of the Act, the model consultation term prescribed by Schedule 2.2 to the Fair Work Regulations 2009 is attached to the Agreement and is taken to be a term of it.

[6] The CEPU, 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 CEPU.

[7] The Agreement is approved and, in accordance with s.54 of the Act, will operate from 9 November 2021. The nominal expiry date of the Agreement is 2 November 2025.

COMMISSIONER

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ANNEXURE A