Restrictions OK
Jurisdiction Employment Relations Authority - Christchurch
Reference No CA 29/07
Hearing date 7 Feb 2007
Determination date 27 March 2007
Member J Crichton
Representation D Felming ; S Knowles
Location Dunedin
Parties National Distribution Union v Arthur Barnett Ltd
Summary DISPUTE - Interpretation of overtime provision in collective employment agreement (CEA") - Whether overtime triggered on daily or weekly basis - Applicant's analysis preferred, meant phrase "on a daily basis" made sense in context of clause as whole - Overtime accrued each day - Construction clear from words - Overtime provision in CEA wrongly applied by respondent - COMPLIANCE ORDER - ARREARS OF WAGES - Applicant sought compliance order to remedy default, and arrears - Respondent argued application not suitable for compliance order - In reality matter a dispute - Respondent resisted paying arrears as applicant not diligent in progressing claim - Argument had some force - With exception of two year "error period", respondent's interpretation had applied since 1992 - Parties to engage with each other to determine consequences of decision - Leave reserved to return to Authority if matters not resolved"
Result Question answered in favour of applicant ; Costs reserved
Main Category Dispute
Statutes ERA s129(1)
Cases Cited Association of Staff in Tertiary Education Inc: ASTE Te Hau Takitini o Aotearoa v;Hampton, Chief Executive of the Bay of Plenty Polytechnic [2002] 1 ERNZ 491;Godfrey Hirst New Zealand Ltd v National Distribution Union Inc unreported, Colgan;J, 27 October 2004, AC 62/04;New Zealand Tramways and Public Transport Employees Union Inc & Anor v;Transportation Auckland Corporation Ltd and Cityline (New Zealand) Ltd;unreported, Travis, Shaw and Perkins JJ, 27 November 2006, AC 61A/06
Number of Pages 6
PDF File Link: ca 29_07.pdf [pdf 37 KB]