| Summary |
DISPUTE - Interpretation of collective employment agreement - Parties' collective agreement provided that employees had minimum 84 hours of work per fortnight - Clause stated that employee will be paid for 42 hours in the first week (including when less than 42 hours are worked) and paid for 42 hours, plus any additional hours, in the second week" - Respondents alleged meaning was that where employee worked less than 42 hours in first week but more than 42 hours in second week, extra hours in second week were first credited to deficit in first week and only then was worker paid for additional hours - Alleged that "additional hours" were those in excess of 84 hours' work over entire fortnight - Applicants disputed respondent's interpretation and sought arrears - Authority agreed with respondent - Meaning made clear by positioning of comma at beginning and end of phrase "plus any additional hours" which made phrase referable both to first and second weeks - "Unders" as well as "overs" counted according to plain meaning of clause" |