Woman awarded $300 in arbitration ruling

Press, 5 December 1985, Page 9

Woman awarded $300 in arbitration ruling

A Christchurch woman was awarded $3OO in the Arbitration Court yesterday because her former employer had not given her union reasonable notice of her redundancy. Mrs Nancy Royfee had been employed as a clerical worker in the Christchurch office of a Te Rapa-based company, Rolls Industries, until December 21 last year, said Mr Mike Dawson, representing the Canterbury Clerical Workers’ Union.

The local manager had told her on or about December 14 that because the branch was being taken

over by another company she would not be needed after December 21. Mrs Royfee had been given reasonable notice under the Clerical Workers’ Award, but the union had not been given prior notice as the award stipulated. Such breaches of the award were extremely serious and were increasing. Their effect was to rob workers of union help when it was most needed, he said. Mr D. R. Smith, counsel for the defendant, said Rolls Industries accepted that it had not complied with the

award. That had been because of an oversight and not malice. Judge Mac Lean said there was a good reason for the award to say that unions should receive prior notification, and that companies should be aware of their obligations under the award. In this case the local branch of Rolls Industries had been taken over by another company, making it more difficult for the union to help Mrs Royfee. He awarded her $3OO. Personal costs were tp be borne by both parties.