"Automotive, Food, Metals, Engineering, Printing and Kindred Industries Union" known as the Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union (AMWU) v Bisalloy Steels Pty Ltd [2026] FWC 2640
1
Fair Work Act 2009
s.437 - Application for a protected action ballot order
"Automotive, Food, Metals, Engineering, Printing and Kindred Industries
Union" known as the Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union (AMWU)
v
Bisalloy Steels Pty Ltd
(B2026/812)
DEPUTY PRESIDENT HAMPTON ADELAIDE, 13 JULY 2026
Proposed protected action ballot of employees of Bisalloy Steels Pty Ltd – non-AEC ballot
agent electronic voting
[1] This is an application by the "Automotive, Food, Metals, Engineering, Printing and
Kindred Industries Union" known as the Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union (AMWU
or Applicant) made under s.437 of the Fair Work Act 2009 (Act) for a protected action ballot
order in relation to certain employees of Bisalloy Steels Pty Ltd (Bisalloy Steels or Employer).
[2] I note that the Australian Workers’ Union (AWU)1 has made a separate application for
a protected action ballot order in relation to the same proposed enterprise agreement.
[3] On 10 July 2026, the Commission was advised that the Employer, in effect, did not
object to the Application.
[4] In the circumstances, I have decided to determine the matter on the papers without
holding a hearing.
[5] On the basis of the material before me, including the declaration of Michael Hall,
Organiser, setting out the steps taken by the AMWU in bargaining with the Employer and that
it has been, and is, genuinely trying to reach agreement with Bisalloy Steels, I am satisfied that
there is a notification time in relation to the proposed agreement and that all of the requirements
in s.443(1) of the Act have been met.
[6] The ballot is to be conducted by Fair Vote Services Pty Ltd (Fair Vote). Fair Vote has
been approved as an eligible protected action ballot agent under s.468A of the Act and
consequently is authorised to conduct the ballot.
1 B2026/816.
[2026] FWC 2640
DECISION
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[2026] FWC 2640
2
[7] For the purposes of s.443(3)(c) of the Act, the Commission has determined that the date
by which voting is to close is 27 July 2026.2 This also establishes the ballot period for the
purpose of s.448A(2) of the Act.
[8] An Order has been separately issued in PR812016.
[9] This matter will be assigned to another Member of the Commission to conduct the
s.448A compulsory conciliation conference along with the other related matters. That Member
will issue an Order requiring the attendance of all bargaining representatives in the proposed
enterprise agreement at the conference. It is likely that Directions will also be issued to ensure
that the parties attend the conference ready to conduct meaningful negotiations.
DEPUTY PRESIDENT
Printed by authority of the Commonwealth Government Printer
<PR812017>
2 This is, in effect, 10 working days from the making of the Order and was the period sought in the application.
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Official source: https://www.fwc.gov.au/documents/decisionssigned/pdf/2026fwc2640.pdf