Restrictions OK
Jurisdiction Employment Relations Authority - Wellington
Reference No [2015] NZERA Wellington 106
Determination date 02 November 2015
Member Trish MacKinnon
Representation R Quirke (in person), J Henderson (in person) ; K Muir, S Doolan
Location Wellington
Parties Quirke and Anor v Hato Paora Trust Board and Anor
Other Parties Henderson ; Lobb
Summary RAISING PERSONAL GRIEVANCE – Whether grievances raised within 90 days – Applicants sought leave to raise grievances out of time – COUNTER CLAIM - PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – Identity of employer – Whether applicants employed by second respondent - Second respondent sought to dismiss applicants’ claims against him – Laundry workers
Abstract AUTHORITY FOUND –;RAISING PERSONAL GRIEVANCE: Respondent did not find out about grievance claims until 19 months after termination of applicant’s employment. Even if applicants’ union representative had sent letter to respondent when claimed, grievance would still have been raised out of time. Applicants made reasonable attempts to have grievances raised in time. Applicant’s representative unreasonably failed to do so. Exceptional circumstances. Delay not unjust for respondent as applicants could also be disadvantaged by long time period since claim arose. Leave granted to raise grievance out of time.;COUNTER CLAIM - PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE: Second respondent employee of first respondent. Second respondent only acted as manager of applicants, not as employer. Applicants not employed by second respondent. Second respondent removed from proceedings.
Result Applications granted ; Costs reserved
Main Category Raising PG
Statutes ERA s114;ERA s114(4);ERA s114(5);ERA s115;ERA s115(b)
Cases Cited Austin v Silver Fern Farms Ltd [2014] NZEmpC 30, (2014) NZELR 600;Creedy v Commissioner of Police [2006] ERNZ 517 (EmpC);McMillan v Waikanae Holdings (Gisborne) Ltd t/a McCannics (2005) 7 NZELC 97, 859 (EmpC);Wilkins & Field Ltd v Fortune [1998] 2 ERNZ 70 (CA)
Number of Pages 10
PDF File Link: 2015_NZERA_Wellington_106.pdf [pdf 172 KB]