Restrictions OK
Jurisdiction Employment Relations Authority - Christchurch
Reference No CA 116/07
Hearing date 6 Sep 2007
Determination date 26 September 2007
Member P Cheyne
Representation P Shaw ; J Angus-Burney, P Yarrell
Location Christchurch
Parties Lyttelton Engineering Ltd v New Zealand Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union Inc & Anor
Other Parties Manufacturing and Construction Workers Union
Summary DISPUTE – Interpretation of collective employment agreement (“CEA”) – CEA clauses provided three weeks annual leave, and “additional week” on completion of six years service – Whether entitlement in second clause included for purposes of satisfying statutory minimum entitlement – During bargaining parties considered effect of Holidays Act 2003, and deleted references to Holidays Act 1981 - Parties must have known first clause would be affected by change to minimum entitlement during term of CEA – Despite this, no change to clause made – In order to find second clause entitlement counted towards meeting minimum statutory entitlement, necessary to define “additional” as synonym of “enhanced” and different from “additional” in Holidays Act 2003 – Reasons for finding different meaning in New Zealand Dairy Workers Union v Fonterra Brands (Tip Top) Ltd (cited below) did not apply - Parties claims and subjective intentions during early negotiations not material affecting objective interpretation of clause – “Additional” in clause had same meaning as “additional” in Holidays Act 2003 – First clause of no effect to extent restricted or reduced employees’ minimum entitlement – Employees entitled to four weeks annual leave, and those with qualifying service, five weeks
Result Question answered in favour of respondents ; Costs reserved
Main Category Dispute
Statutes Holidays Act 2003 s6;Holidays Act 2003 s6(1);Holidays Act 2003 s6(2);Holidays Act 2003 s6(3)
Cases Cited New Zealand Dairy Workers Union v Fonterra Brands (Tip Top) Ltd unreported, R Monaghan, 20 June 2007, AA 185/07;New Zealand Tramways & Public Transport Employees Union Incorporated & Anor v Transportation Auckland Corporation Ltd & Anor unreported, Full Court, 27 November 2006, AC 61A/06
Number of Pages 6
PDF File Link: ca 116_07.pdf [pdf 25 KB]