A Federal Court of Australia Full Court has ruled that a union’s right to enter premises to ‘hold discussions’ includes entering to secure signatures on a petition.
This follows an appeal of the first instance Federal Court decision that a union official who entered premises with the intention of getting signatures for a petition was not an entry ‘for the purposes of holding discussions’ and was therefore not permitted under the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) (“FW Act”).
The Full Court of the Federal Court of Australia recently in Communication, Electrical, Electronic, Energy, Information, Postal, Plumbing and Allied Services Union of Australia v Austal Ships Pty Ltd held that a CEPU official who entered premises for reasons including to secure signatures on a petition for a majority support determination (a process available under the FW Act for employees to make their employer commence bargaining for an enterprise agreement) was validly entering the premises for the purposes of ‘holding discussions’.[1]
What happened?
On four occasions, a CEPU official attempted to enter Austal Ship’s premises to provide updates to members and potential members, speak with members about a majority support determination for an enterprise agreement, invite members and potential members to sign a petition in support of a majority support determination, and persuade those who were unsure or reluctant to support the majority support determination.
The official was refused entry on all four occasions. Austal Ship’s reason for refusing entry was because seeking people to sign a petition did not (in its opinion) fall within the scope of the right to enter a premises for the purpose of ‘holding discussions with one or more employees’.
First instance decision
In the first instance, Justice Colvin rejected the CEPU’s various arguments, including that obtaining a signature was no different to taking notes of a conversation, or that seeking a signature being only part of the reason for entry did not invalidate the right of entry.
His Honour found that seeking a signature does not fall within the statutory definition of ‘holding discussions’, and that entering for the purpose of securing a petition would invalidate the entry even if discussions were held before the signing of the petition (or seeking people to sign the petition) occurred.
The Appeal
The Full Court quashed the first instance decision, finding that a discussion ‘is a means to an end’ and ‘a medium that is engaged in order to achieve some other objective’. Given this, in order to secure signatures on a petition was, in effect, a natural extension from holding a discussion. That is, the CEPU official was entering to hold discussions with employees in order to secure their signature, and this sequence of events was within the statutory definition of ‘holding discussions’.
Key Takeaways
An official who enters premises with an industrial goal or objective in mind will still be holding discussions with employees for the purposes of right of entry, even where the result of that discussion is the securing of the particular goal such as by way of a vote, signing a petition, or some other action (even if it might be contrary to the employer’s interests). Possible examples might include to:
- gather support for the pursuit of a protected action ballot to take industrial action against the employer;
- gather support for the pursuit of a claim or a dispute against the employer;
- update employees on bargaining and seek approval for negotiating claims; and
- discuss campaigns for industrial change and seeking the signing of a petition for this.
While this decision should not be read as giving union officials any broader a scope to enter premises, it highlights the complexity around determining whether a union’s request to enter premises will be for a reason permitted by the FW Act. Employers (or occupiers) who wrongly deny a union the right to enter the premises may expose themselves to significant penalties under the FW Act.
Where a union gives notice that it seeks to enter premises on particular grounds, managers and leaders should promptly seek expert advice (whether internal or external) to confirm whether the notice is for lawful entry to the premises. If it is, those managers and leaders must not hinder or obstruct the union official entering the premises.
[1] [2023] FCAFC 180.
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