Restrictions OK
Jurisdiction Employment Relations Authority - Auckland
Reference No AA 208/10
Hearing date 4 Feb 2010
Determination date 04 May 2010
Member K J Anderson
Representation P Blair ; N Jones
Location Rotorua
Parties The Postal Workers Union of Aotearoa & Anor v New Zealand Post Ltd
Other Parties Behan-Kitto
Summary DISPUTE – Interpretation of Collective Employment Agreement (“CEA”) – First applicant delegated another person to attend mediation because union delegate ill and unable to fully participate in mediation – However, delegate subsequently attended attend – Respondent declined request for unelected special purpose delegate to attend mediation because respondent did not pay employees to attend mediation – Employee attended mediation but not paid – First applicant claimed employee entitled to payment – Authority found delegates must be elected – Found respondent not required to provide payment to employee because not elected delegate – Found CEA did not exclude elected delegate from being paid to attend mediation but did not provide absolute right to payment – Found respondent entitled to take into account circumstances and matters such as whether employee had other competent representative and whether union delegate could provide value to mediation process – Found future benefits to delegate and company from training and education perspective may warrant payment to attend mediation – Found respondent allowed discretion to determine reasonable time off
Result Questions answered ; No order for costs
Main Category Dispute
Number of Pages 6
PDF File Link: aa 208_10.pdf [pdf 26 KB]