Restrictions OK
Jurisdiction Employment Relations Authority - Auckland
Reference No [2012] NZERA Auckland 72
Hearing date 23 Feb 2012
Determination date 28 February 2012
Member R Arthur
Representation L Darroch ; A Caisley
Location Auckland
Parties Lemalu v Air New Zealand Ltd
Summary RAISING PERSONAL GRIEVANCE – Whether applicant raised grievance within 90 days – Applicant dismissed for serious misconduct – Respondent claimed applicant breached airside driving rules when detected by speed camera going faster than permitted – Applicant spoke with union about raising grievance – Union confirmed would not take any further action on applicant’s grievance – Applicant lodged personal grievance application with Authority and acknowledged had not raised grievance within required 90 day period – Applicant claimed told respondent at time of dismissal was not happy with decision to dismiss and intended to appeal decision – Authority found statement not sufficient to raise grievance – Applicant claimed letter given to respondent which set out that applicant wished to appeal decision – Found likely letter never given to respondent – Found union clearly advised applicant would not pursue grievance on applicant’s behalf – Found advice not hurried or belated and applicant still had time left to raise grievance on own account following advice – Found applicant not so affected by dismissal that unable to properly consider raising grievance in time – Therapist claimed that during 90 day period applicant coping and was compiling information for case – Found applicant able to properly consider raising grievance – Found unlikely applicant unaware of time limit for raising personal grievance given experience as union delegate and had previously discussed raising personal grievance about warning received – Found applicant’s feelings not uncommon for someone who had been dismissed and not exceptional – Found applicant remained able to consider and prepare raising personal grievance during 90 day period – Storeperson
Result Application dismissed ; Costs reserved
Main Category Raising PG
Statutes ERA s114(4);ERA s114(4)(b);ERA s115;ERA s115(a);ERA s174
Cases Cited Creedy v Commissioner of Police [2008] ERNZ 109;PBO Ltd v Da Cruz [2005] ERNZ 808
Number of Pages 9
PDF File Link: 2012_NZERA_Auckland_72.pdf [pdf 41 KB]