Restrictions OK
Jurisdiction Employment Relations Authority - Auckland
Reference No AA 381/10
Hearing date 2 Aug 2010
Determination date 24 August 2010
Member E Robinson
Representation M Meyrick ; A Caisley
Location Auckland
Parties Meyrick v Transportation Auckland Corporation Ltd
Summary RAISING PERSONAL GRIEVANCE - UNJUSTIFIED DISADVANTAGE – Applicant claimed final written warning unjustified – Respondent argued grievance not raised within time - Argued warning justified for repeated failure to follow lawful and reasonable instructions constituting serious misconduct – Respondent received numerous reports applicant not following correct ticketing procedures – Respondent initiated first stage of disciplinary process pursuant to collective employment agreement (“CEA”) – Subsequent report alleged applicant committed similar misconducts – Applicant issued with form to provide explanation for misconduct allegations – Disciplinary meeting concluded final written warning appropriate given conduct constituted serious misconduct and applicant repeatedly failed to follow reasonable instructions – Authority found grievance not raised within time and no leave sought – Found even if grievance raised within time would not find warning unjustified – Found warning issued within designated “serious misconduct” pursuant to CEA – Found warning issued in background of repeated misconducts – Found warning procedurally justified – No unjustified disadvantage - UNJUSTIFIED DISMISSAL – Serious misconduct – Applicant dismissed following incident where repeated breaches of lawful and reasonable instructions committed – Disciplinary meeting held – Applicant explained bus exceptionally busy – Respondent adjourned meeting to conduct further investigation into claim – Respondent concluded applicant drove smaller bus at time of incident and not exceptionally busy - Explanation not accepted – Applicant given opportunity to respond to preliminary facts - Adjournment for respondent to discuss allegation – Respondent concluded dismissal for serious misconduct warranted – Authority found dismissal procedurally justified – Found applicant given thorough training to cover relevant rules and procedures – Found dismissal decision took into account final warning and repeated misconduct – Found dismissal for serious misconduct causing loss of trust and confidence justified – Bus Driver
Result Application dismissed ; Costs reserved
Main Category Personal Grievance
Statutes ERA s103A;ERA s114(1)
Cases Cited Air New Zealand Ltd v V [2009] ERNZ 185;NZ Food Processing IUOW v Unilever NZ Ltd [1990] 1 NZILR 35;Secretary for Justice v Dodd [2010] NZEMPC 84
Number of Pages 14
PDF File Link: aa 381_10.pdf [pdf 35 KB]