Restrictions OK
Jurisdiction Employment Relations Authority - Wellington
Reference No WA 50/03
Hearing date 20 Mar 2003 - 21 Mar 2003 (2 days)
Determination date 02 April 2003
Member G J Wood
Representation T Wilton ; R Cabraal, P Cullen
Location Wellington
Parties Te'o v Linework Ltd
Summary UNJUSTIFIED DISMISSAL - Serious misconduct - Alleged applicant attempted to run down co-worker with his car - Disciplinary investigation commenced after police investigation complete - Respondent attempted a fair investigation - Opportunity to comment on preliminary conclusions - Preliminary view adopted before applicant questioned - Understandable that applicant saw no point in commenting - Changes to applicant's story seen by respondent to detract from credibility - Complainant also changed his story - Not open to fair employer to accept complainant's changes but not applicant's - Comments I cannot recall" not evidence of inconsistency - Dismissal procedurally unfair - Could not determine whether serious misconduct had occurred - Dismissal substantively unjustified - Line mechanic"
Result Application granted ; Reimbursement of lost wages ($6,563.16) ; Compensation for humiliation etc ($7,000) ; Costs reserved
Cases Cited Airline Stewards and Hostesses of NZ IUOW v Air NZ Ltd [1990] 3 NZILR 584 ; [1990] 3 NZLR 549;Bradley v Attorney General & Anor [1988] 2 NZLR 454;Honda NZ Ltd v NZ (with exceptions) Shipwrights etc Union [1990] 3 NZILR 23 ; [1991] 1 NZLR 392;John v Rees [1970] Ch 345;Northern Distribution Union v BP Oil NZ Ltd [1992] 3 ERNZ 483;Russell v Wanganui City College [1998] 3 ERNZ 1076;W & H Newspapers Ltd v Oram [2000] 2 ERNZ 448 ; [2001] 3 NZLR 29;Whanganui College Board of Trustees v Lewis [2000] 1 ERNZ 397
Number of Pages 14
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