Restrictions OK
Jurisdiction Employment Relations Authority - Auckland
Reference No AA 120/01
Determination date 27 August 2001
Member R A Monaghan
Representation J Lawrie ; L Campbell
Location Auckland
Parties Taungahihifo v Scrap Steel Recyclers Ltd
Other Parties Angaaetau, Vaitohi
Summary UNJUSTIFIED DISMISSAL - Redundancy - Alleged selection process unfair and failed to consult - Alleged predetermination and improper considerations taken into account - Change in processes resulted in redundancies - Notified all employees of possibility of redundancies - Preliminary assessment reduced number of employees consulted to number to be made redundant - Escorted off premises by security guard - Subsequently asked to attend meeting with representatives and dismissed - Given blank assessment form but no discussion of individual assessments - No opportunity to refute assessment - Open to criticism of predetermination - Consultation and selection process led to sufficient level of unfairness to render dismissals unjustified - No evidence of anti-unionism as alleged - Use of security guards acceptable in circumstances - Reinstatement not possible - Reimbursement of lost wages not appropriate because unlikely fair process would have led to a different outcome - Gascutters & yardmen
Result Application granted ; Compensation for humiliation ($2,000)(MT) ; ($2,000)(LA) ; ($2,000)(TV) ; Costs reserved
Statutes ERA s4;ERA s4(4)(c);ERA s4(4)(d)
Cases Cited Apiata v Telecom New Zealand Ltd [1998] 2 ERNZ 130;Baguley v Coutts Cars Ltd [2000] 2 ERNZ 409;Dunn v Methanex New Zealand Ltd [1996] 2 ERNZ 222
Number of Pages 12
PDF File Link: PDF file not available for download, please contact us to request a copy.