Restrictions OK
Jurisdiction Employment Relations Authority - Christchurch
Reference No CA 66/04
Hearing date 25 May 2004
Determination date 09 June 2004
Member P Montgomery
Representation C French ; KG Smith
Location Christchurch
Parties New Zealand Meatworkers and Related Trades Union (Inc) and Ors v Alliance Group Ltd
Other Parties Fraser, Byron, Allington
Summary DISPUTE - Interpretation of variation to collective employment agreement - Variation provided for ordinary working day to be extended to 480 minutes at ordinary rates of pay for all departments except slaughtermen - Separate pay rate for sheep and lamb slaughtermen specified - Variation silent about beef slaughtermen - Prior to ratification of variation respondent sent letter of comfort to applicant - Letter of comfort stated respondent would not unilaterally increase day shift beef kill" without discussion - Respondent alleged that obligations met by having general discussion with applicant and that afterwards entitled to invoke 480 minute day for beef slaughtermen at ordinary rates of pay - Applicant alleged "discussion" in industrial setting related to establishing basis for negotiation - Respondent not entitled to assume existence of agreement about rates payable to beef slaughtermen by virtue of variation - Parties directed to have meaningful discussion with view to agreeing on rate to be paid for beef slaughtermen working 480 minute day"
Result Application granted ; Costs reserved
Cases Cited Investors Compensation Scheme Ltd v West Bromwich Building Society [1998] 1 All ER 98;Potter v Potter [2003] 3 NZLR 145;Pyne Gould Guiness Ltd v Montgomery Watson (NZ) Ltd [2001] NZAR 789
Number of Pages 5
PDF File Link: PDF file not available for download, please contact us to request a copy.