Restrictions OK
Jurisdiction Employment Relations Authority - Wellington
Reference No WA 138/06
Hearing date 13 Sep 2006
Determination date 11 October 2006
Member P R Stapp
Representation J Unsworth ; G Malone
Location Wellington
Parties Beamsley v AFFCO New Zealand Ltd
Summary UNJUSTIFIED DISADVANTAGE - Applicant undertook union duties full time - Alleged disadvantaged when respondent unilaterally changed employment arrangement and required him to start productive duties - Sought reinstatement to full-time union role - Interim arrangement between parties preserved status quo - Applicant relied on memorandum stating full-time union representation arrangement in place for his tenure as secretary - Whether company entitled to vary arrangement without applicants agreement - Memorandum represented terms for applicant's employment - Respondent made decision without consultation - Not a redundancy situation because role of Union Secretary remained and respondent had not linked cost efficiencies to applicant’s previous position - Decision to require applicant to report to productive duties or not be paid unjustified, and breached terms and conditions of employment - Breach of good faith as failed to follow due process - Applicant to continue to be paid full time as Union Secretary -Parties directed to make interim arrangements permanent - Leave reserved for compliance order if necessary - Union Secretary
Result Application granted ; Costs reserved ; Orders accordingly
Cases Cited New Zealand Meat Processors, etc IUOW v Alliance Freezing Company (Southland) Ltd 2 NZILR 246
Number of Pages 6
PDF File Link: wa 138_06.pdf [pdf 35 KB]