Finance Sector Union of Australia v Commonwealth Bank of Australia [2000] FCA 1468

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Finance Sector Union of Australia v Commonwealth Bank of Australia

[2000] FCA 1468

INDUSTRIAL LAW – certified agreements – whether proceedings for interpretation commenced by union intended to coerce employer to enter into certified agreement contrary to s 170NC of the Workplace Relations Act 1996 (Cth) – whether during bargaining period action taken to advance or detract from a party's position in that process amounts to coercion – whether in considering an inference of intention to coerce contrary to s 170NC it is relevant to consider likelihood of coercion – whether proceedings an abuse of process – where immediate purpose of action is within jurisdiction no abuse of process

PRACTICE & PROCEDURE – abuse of process

WORDS AND PHRASES – "coerce", "duress", "abuse of process"

Workplace Relations Act 1996 (Cth)ss 166A, 170LJ, 170LK, 170LR, 170LT, 170LV, 170LX, 170MC, 170MD, 170MG, 170MT, 170NB, 170NC, 170NG, 170WF, 170WG, 298M, 413, 413A Hanley v Automotive Food Metals Engineering Printing & Kindred Industries Union [2000] FCA 1188 referred to Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union v Multiplex Constructions Pty Ltd (2000) 95 IR 225 distinguished National Workforce Pty Ltd v Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (No 2) (1997) 76 IR 200 referred to Finance Sector Union v Commonwealth Bank of Australia [2000] FCA 1372 distinguished Allen v Flood [1898] AC 1 cited Hodges v Webb [1920] 2 Ch 70 cited White v Riley [1921] 1 Ch 1 cited Goddard v Osborne (1978) 35 FLR 122 cited Schanka v Employment National (Administration) Pty Ltd (2000) 170 ALR 42 followed Crescendo Management Pty Ltd v Westpac Banking Corporation (1988) 19 NSWLR 40 applied Barton v Armstrong [1973] 2 NSWLR 598 cited Australasian Meat Industry Employees Union v Peerless Holdings Pty Ltd [2000] FCA 1047 referred to Maritime Union of Australia v Burnie Port Corporation Pty Ltd [2000] FCA 1189 referred to Australian Workers Union v Yallourn Energy Pty Ltd (1999) 95 IR 207 ([2000] FCA 65) distinguished CFMEU v Master Builders Association of Victoria (No 1) [2000] FCA 168 referred to CFMEU v Mirvac Constructions Pty Ltd (2000) 96 IR 458 ([2000] FCA 341) referred to Auspine Ltd v CFMEU [2000] FCA 501 referred to Australian Paper Ltd v Communication, Electrical, Electronic, Information, Postal, Plumbing & Allied Services Union of Australia (1998) 81 IR 15 referred to Williams v Spautz (1991-1992) 174 CLR 509 applied Macquarie Dictionary 3rd Ed, 1997 New Shorter Oxford English Dictionary, 1993 FINANCE SECTOR UNION OF AUSTRALIA v COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA (ACN 123 123 124) N 639 of 2000 N 640 of 2000 GYLES J SYDNEY 17 OCTOBER 2000