Restrictions OK
Jurisdiction Employment Relations Authority - Christchurch
Reference No CA 55/06
Hearing date 20 Apr 2006
Determination date 26 April 2006
Member P Cheyne
Representation L Andersen ; C Blake
Location Christchurch
Parties Ireland v The Child Cancer Foundation Inc
Summary INJUNCTION - Application for interim reinstatement - Respondent received complaint that applicant had behaved inappropriately by gossiping about man associated with respondent and parties met to discuss issue - At subsequent meeting applicant was summarily dismissed for serious misconduct - Applicant submitted she should have had further opportunity to comment before dismissal and dismissal was based on allegations not put to her - Parties also disagreed about whether applicant refused to answer questions at disciplinary meeting - Arguable case that dismissal unjustified due to procedural unfairness - Respondent gave undertaking not to replace applicant until substantive issue determined - Authority accepted that if applicant awarded reinstatement in interim but not substantively respondent could suffer damage to reputation that could not be adequately remedied by damages - Balance of convenience favoured respondent - No other factors strongly favoured interim reinstatement - Application for interim reinstatement declined - Temporary non-publication order prohibiting publication of name of man who was subject of gossip - Member Support Manager
Result Application dismissed ; Costs reserved
Statutes ERA s103A
Cases Cited BP Oil Ltd v Northern Distribution Union [1989] 3 NZILR 276, [1989] 3 NZLR 580 (CA);Northern Distribution Union v BP Oil NZ Ltd [1992] 3 ERNZ 483
Number of Pages 4
PDF File Link: ca 55_06.pdf [pdf 25 KB]