Fair Work Act 2009_

s.437 - Protected action

ACT Government as represented by the Territory and Municipal Services Directorate T/A ACTION (Australian Capital Territory Internal Omnibus Network)

Proposed protected action ballot by employees of ACTION.

[1] This decision relates to an application made by the Transport Workers' Union of Australia (the Union) on 15 August 2013, for a protected action ballot of employees of the ACT Government as represented by the Territory and Municipal Services Directorate T/A ACTION (the Employer). The application was made pursuant to s.437 of the Fair Work Act 2009 (the Act).

[2] The representative of the Employer, Mr Jon Brosolo, has advised that the Employer does not oppose the making of the Order but seeks, pursuant to s.443(5) of the Act, 7 working days written notice of industrial action by the Union. In response, the Union has advised that the extension of the written notice period to 7 working days is not opposed. In these circumstances a hearing is unnecessary.

[3] The group of employees to be balloted are the Transport Officer members of the Transport Workers' Union of Australia based at the Employer's depots at 220 Scollay St, Greenway ACT and Corner of Cohen and Josephson St, Belconnen ACT who will be subject to the proposed agreement and for whom the Transport Workers' Union of Australia is a bargaining representative.

[4] The relevant section of the Act, s.443, provides as follows:

443 When the FWC must make a protected action ballot order

(1) The FWC must make a protected action ballot order in relation to a proposed

(a) an application has been made under section 437; and

(b) the FWC is satisfied that each applicant has been, and is, genuinely trying to reach an agreement with the employer of the employees who are to be balloted.

(2) The FWC must not make a protected action ballot order in relation to a proposed enterprise agreement except in the circumstances referred to in subsection (1).

(3) A protected action ballot order must specify the following:

(b) the group or groups of employees who are to be balloted;

(c) the date by which voting in the protected action ballot closes;

(d) the question or questions to be put to the employees who are to be balloted, including the nature of the proposed industrial action.

(5) If the FWC is satisfied, in relation to the proposed industrial action that is the subject of the protected action ballot, that there are exceptional circumstances justifying the period of written notice referred to in paragraph 414(2)(a) being longer than 3 working days, the protected action ballot order may specify a longer period of up to 7 working days.

[5] I am satisfied that the application has been made in accordance with s.437 of the Act, that the Union is genuinely trying to reach an agreement with the Employer of the employees who are to be balloted and that exceptional circumstances warrant an extension of the period of written notice to 7 working days.

[6] As ss.443(1)(a) and (b) have been complied with, I must make a protected action ballot order, as sought by the Union. An Order [PR540418] to this effect is issued separately.

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