UGL AND CEPU PLUMBING DIVISION BRANCH QUEENSLAND REGIONAL ENTERPRISE AGREEMENT 2020-2024

Application for Termination of the UGL and CEPU Plumbing Division Branch Queensland Regional Enterprise Agreement 2020-2024

[1] An application pursuant to s225 of the Fair Work Act (Cth) (the FW Act) has been made by UGL Rail Services Pty Ltd (the Applicant) to terminate the UGL and CEPU Plumbing Division Branch Queensland Regional Enterprise Agreement 2020-2024 (the Agreement).

[2] Section 225 of the Act provides as follows:

1. "225 Application for termination of an enterprise agreement after its nominal expiry date

If an enterprise agreement has passed its nominal expiry date, any of the following may apply to the FWC for the termination of the agreement:

(a) one or more of the employers covered by the agreement;

(c) an employee organisation covered by the agreement."

[3] The Agreement has passed its nominal expiry date of 31 January 2025. The Applicant is an employer covered by the Agreement and has standing to make the application as per s225(a).

[4] The Applicant has provided a statutory declaration stating that the Agreement does not cover any employees.

[5] The criteria for termination of an agreement are set out in s226 of the FW Act, the relevant parts of which is as follows:

2. "226 Terminating an enterprise agreement after its nominal expiry date

(1) If an application for the termination of an enterprise agreement is made under section 225, the FWC must terminate the agreement if:

(a) the FWC is satisfied that the continued operation of the agreement would be unfair for the employees covered by the agreement; or

(b) the FWC is satisfied that the agreement does not, and is not likely to, cover any employees; or

(i) the FWC is satisfied that the continued operation of the enterprise agreement would pose a significant threat to the viability of a business carried on by the employer, or employers, covered by the agreement;

(ii) the FWC is satisfied that the termination of the enterprise agreement would be likely to reduce the potential of terminations of employment covered by subsection (2) for the employees covered by the agreement;

(iii) if the agreement contains terms providing entitlements relating to the termination of employees' employment - each employer covered by the agreement has given the FWC a guarantee of termination entitlements in relation to the termination of the agreement.

(1A) However, the FWC must terminate the enterprise agreement under subsection (1) only if the FWC is satisfied that it is appropriate in all the circumstances to do so.

(2) This subsection covers a termination of the employment of an employee:

(a) at the employer's initiative because the employer no longer requires the job done by the employee to be done by anyone, except where this is due to the ordinary and customary turnover of labour; or

(b) because of the insolvency or bankruptcy of the employer.

(3) In deciding whether to terminate the agreement, the FWC must consider the views of the following covered by the agreement:

(a) the employees (unless there are no employees covered by the agreement);

(4) In deciding whether to terminate the agreement (the existing agreement), the FWC must have regard to:

(a) whether the application was made at or after the notification time for a proposed enterprise agreement that will cover the same, or substantially the same, group of employees as the existing agreement; and

(b) whether bargaining for the proposed enterprise agreement is occurring; and

(c) whether the termination of the existing agreement would adversely affect the bargaining position of the employees that will be covered by the proposed enterprise agreement.

(5) In deciding whether to terminate the agreement, the FWC may also have regard to any other relevant matter."

[6] The Applicant advises that it no longer employs any persons under the Agreement and I am satisfied that there are no employees covered by the Agreement. The Communications, Electrical, Electronic, Energy, Information, Postal, Plumbing and Allied Services Union (the CEPU) are an employee organisation covered by the Agreement. I wrote to the CEPU seeking their views on the application and the proposed termination of the Agreement. The CEPU advised that they had no objection to the proposed termination. I am not aware of any other relevant matters that need to be considered, and I am satisfied that it is appropriate in all of the circumstances to terminate the Agreement.

[7] On that basis, I am satisfied that the requirements of the Act for termination have been met and I hereby order that the Agreement be terminated with effect from 3 December 2025.

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