Restrictions OK
Jurisdiction Employment Relations Authority - Christchurch
Reference No CA 161/05
Hearing date 15 Sep 2005
Determination date 12 December 2005
Member J Crichton
Representation G Lloyd ; PD Zwart
Location Christchurch
Parties Crimmins v McVicar Timber Group Ltd
Summary UNJUSTIFIED DISADVANTAGE - Whether or not applicant's position was made redundant so as to engage redundancy provisions of parties' collective employment agreement - Alleged failure to pay redundancy compensation - Respondent denied applicant was declared redundant - Site was sold - Six employees affected - Bulk of workers likely to transfer employment to new employer - At first, no suggestion applicant would continue to be employed by respondent - After applicant's union submitted redundancy proposal to respondent, respondent indicated redeployment for the first time - Applicant subsequently suffered stress-related health collapse - Was a staff surplus situation" such that relevant schedule of collective employment agreement applied - Only 2ï¾½ weeks notice of sale given - Maybe position would have been different if respondent had offered alternative employment at first blush rather than the 11th hour - Difficult to escape conclusion that respondent had not acted in good faith - Since schedule applied, process had to be followed which involved considering other options and payment of redundancy compensation - Ample evidence that applicant was seriously hurt by employer of 37 years treating him in manner it did - Unjustified disadvantage - Parties to negotiate on redundancy compensation - Leave reserved should matter not be resolved within reasonable time - General labourer"
Result Application granted ; Redundancy compensation (Quantum to be determined by parties) ; Compensation for humiliation etc ($5,000) ; Costs reserved
Number of Pages 7
PDF File Link: ca 161_05.pdf [pdf 36 KB]