Restrictions OK
Jurisdiction Employment Relations Authority - Auckland
Reference No AA 283/10
Hearing date 11 May 2010
Determination date 15 June 2010
Member Y S Oldfield
Representation T Oldfield ; K Single
Location Auckland
Parties Thompson v Tauranga Environment Centre Charitable Trust
Summary RAISING PERSONAL GRIEVANCE – First issue, whether applicant raised dismissal grievance within time – Second issue, whether exceptional circumstance and just to grant leave – Respondent advised applicant no employment would be offered upon expiry of fixed term employment agreement (“EA”) due to lack of funding – Applicant wrote first letter disputing fixed term nature of EA – Letter provided applicant employed consistently for four years and no notification applicant’s position at risk – Meeting held – Respondent advised even if funding could be secured, applicant would need to apply for position – Applicant wrote second letter providing respondent showed lack of good faith in dealing with matter – Applicant held off pursuing substantive grievance until outcome of funding application – Applicant requested union’s (“H”) assistance to raise grievance – H failed to promptly proceed with grievance and arrange mediation – Employment relationship terminated - Authority found first letter did not raise dismissal grievance as letter only advised applicant had no notice position at risk – Found no dismissal grievance raised at meeting as discussion concentrated on funding issue – Found no grievance raised in second letter as applicant complained about lack of consideration rather than dismissal – Grievance not raise within time – Found exceptional circumstance as applicant made reasonable arrangements for H to raise grievance within time – Found H had no explanation for delay – Found just to grant leave as respondent not prejudiced and delay only marginally outside of 90 day period – Leave granted
Result Application granted ; No order for costs
Main Category Raising PG
Statutes ERA s114(1);ERA s114(3);ERA s114(5);ERA s115(b);Resource Management Act 1991
Number of Pages 10
PDF File Link: AA 283_10.pdf [pdf 29 KB]