Restrictions OK
Jurisdiction Employment Relations Authority - Wellington
Reference No WA 55/07
Hearing date 11 Apr 2007
Determination date 16 April 2007
Member D Asher
Representation P McBride ; A Caisley
Location Wellington
Parties NZ Tramways & Public Passenger Transport Authorities Employees IUOW (Wellington Branch) v Cityline (NZ) Ltd t/a Cityline Hutt Valley
Summary PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – Application for partial strike out – Applicant alleged respondents entered into purported multi-employer, multi union collective employment agreement (“MEMUCA”) in breach of Employment Relations Act 2000 (ERA") – Sought various declarations including finding MEMUCA void ab initio and not valid as collective agreement – Respondent claimed applicant lacked standing and s163 ERA meant Authority could not make an order cancelling or varying collective agreement – Respondent asked that that part of applicant’s claim be struck out – Effect of s163 ERA clear and certain – Union argued section no obstacle to request for declaration MEMUCA void ab initio because agreement not what it purported to be and in a sense did not exist because not true collective agreement – Authority did not accept position because were it to meet union’s request clear and certain effect would be clearly that of cancelling agreement – Validity of purported agreement matter properly tested by application of s194 ERA – No evidence could void effect of ss163 and 194 ERA – Partial strike out application granted - Decision did not stop applicant pursuing other claims relating to alleged breaches of good faith"
Result Application granted ; Orders accordingly ; Costs reserved
Main Category Practice & Procedure
Statutes ERA s135;ERA s135(1)(b);ERA s137(4)(a);ERA s163;ERA s194;ERA Part 5
Cases Cited Clark v NCR (NZ) Corporation [2006] ERNZ 401;New Zealand Fire Service Commission v New Zealand Professional Firefighters' Union Inc [2005] 1 ERNZ 1053;Sibly v Christchurch City Council [2002] 1 ERNZ 476
Number of Pages 6
PDF File Link: wa 55_07.pdf [pdf 24 KB]