Restrictions OK
Jurisdiction Employment Relations Authority - Wellington
Reference No WA 186/05
Hearing date 29 Nov 2005
Determination date 01 December 2005
Member D Asher
Representation G Ogilvie ; S Scott
Location Wellington
Parties Aiken v WTL Carriers Ltd
Summary UNJUSTIFIED DISMISSAL - ARREARS OF WAGES - Respondent alleged it never employed applicant - Applicant was employed by company WTL" and owned 1 of 500 shares in WTL - Other 499 shares owned by applicant's son - Son signed sale and purchase agreement with respondent in respect of vehicles and customer accounts - Respondent alleged it told applicant it would not be offering him full-time, permanent work but offered him casual employment which he refused - Son alleged there was an oral agreement that respondent would employ all of WTL's staff including applicant - Applicant alleged that son advised him he would work for respondent - Respondent took charge of business on day before possession and met all costs of day's trading except for applicant's wages - Applicant alleged he should be paid for that day and was unjustifiably dismissed - No employment relationship existed between parties - Reality was that WTL did not meet its legal and contractual obligations to its staff including giving notice - Authority did not accept employment relationship resulted from applicant working on one day - Applicant remained employee of WTL and what occurred was by fait accompli and not by prior agreement - Could be said that applicant as director failed to meet obligations he owed himself as employee"
Result Application dismissed ; Costs reserved
Statutes ERA s69K
Number of Pages 6
PDF File Link: wa 186_05.pdf [pdf 25 KB]