Court Of Appeal – Days
in Lieu
The Union’s lawyers have finally received the
Fire Service Case on Appeal to the Court of Appeal. The Fire Service
has also applied to have the matter set down – i.e. seek a date for
a hearing.
The Union will be following up with the Court of Appeal the need to
have the case heard as soon as possible.
However, the Union’s advice is that it is likely to be at least 2
months before a hearing date will happen.
Members will be updated as further information becomes available.
Easter Period
– Public Holidays
Members are reminded of the following
information regarding working over this Easter period.
-
Good Friday
14 April – Watches rostered to work - Brown/Green/Blue.
-
Easter
Monday 17 April – Watches rostered to work - Green/Red
-
According to
the Employment Court Decision (being appealed by the Fire Service)
a Day in Lieu is earned: (Note: the Employment Court Decision is
stayed pending the Court of Appeal hearing)
- For Good Friday 14 April – Brown/Green/Blue
- For Easter Monday 17 April – Green/Red
-
For those
working overtime on Good Friday – only those persons on Red Watch
would earn a Day in Lieu. All other Watches have worked part of
their rostered shift on that day and therefore have already
received a Day in Lieu for that day (Note 3. above)
-
For those
working overtime on Easter Monday – only those persons on Blue and
Brown Watches would earn a Day in Lieu. The other two Watches have
worked part of their rostered shift on that day and therefore have
already received a Day in Lieu for that day (Note 3. above).
Court of
Appeal
The Fire Service continues to drag its feet
in pursuing their Appeal. Presently we are close to seeing all the
documents to be relied on in the Appeal filed with the court of
Appeal.
Once this is finalized the Union will immediately apply to have the
case set down – i.e. a hearing date fixed.
The Fire Service has not yet filed their actual argument to be
relied on.
Court of Appeal - Days in Lieu
The Union is increasingly concerned at the length
of time the Fire Service is taking in filing its case on appeal to
the Court of Appeal.
The Fire Service has 6 months from the date of being granted
leave to appeal to file its case. Leave to appeal was granted in
November 2005.
Members will recall that as part of the appeal process, the Fire
Service applied to the Employment Court for a stay on the Employment
Court Decision until determined by the Court of Appeal.
As part of that process, the Union did not oppose the application
(the Union did not support it either), but simply agreed to abide
the Decision of the Court. This position was adopted subsequent to
discussion and agreement with the Fire Service that they would
process their application to the Court of Appeal with urgency.
Clearly the Fire Service is not proceeding with urgency, and the
Union has formally notified the Chief Executive of its concern and
asked him to honour the agreement made.
Members Leaving the Fire Service
Days in Lieu
Members who have left the Fire Service subsequent to 1 April
2004 will be entitled to payment for Days in Lieu accrued, if the
Union wins its case. Administration arrangements for this will need
to be agreed.
Transferring Public Holidays to
Other
Dates
There still appears to be some
confusion over the application of Section 45 of the Holidays Act for
the last Christmas/New Year period. The Union’s understanding was
outlined in two Newsletters –
22 December 2005 and again on
10
February 2006.
Section 45 of the Act provides inter
alia –
If Christmas or New year’s Day:
-
Falls on a Sunday and
that day would otherwise be a working day for the employee, the
Public Holiday is treated as falling on that day i.e. the Sunday.
-
Falls on a Sunday and
that day would not otherwise be a working day for the employee,
the Public Holiday is treated as falling on the following Tuesday.
What this means for the 2005/06
Christmas/New Year period when Christmas and New Year’s Day fell on
a Sunday is as follows:
-
Blue, Red and Green Watches worked on
25 December. For those Watches the Public Holiday is observed on
the actual Public Holiday (i.e. 25 December).
-
Brown Watch did not work on 25
December and therefore for that Watch, the Public Holiday is
transferred to Tuesday 27 December.
-
Brown Watch was rostered to work on
27 December and therefore for that Watch, 27 December is treated
as the Public Holiday.
No person working overtime on 27
December will have that overtime calculated at Public Holiday rates.
Blue, Red and Green Watches worked on 25 December and that is the
day observed as the Public Holiday.
Brown Watch did not work on 25 December but worked a normal shift on
27 December and therefore for that Watch, 27 December is treated as
the Public Holiday.
-
Blue and Green Watches worked on 1
January and therefore for those Watches, the Public Holiday is
observed on the actual Public Holiday i.e. 1 January.
-
Brown and Red Watches did not work on
1 January 2005, therefore the Public Holiday is transferred to 3
January 2006.
-
Red Watch worked a normal shift on 3
January and therefore that day is treated as if it was a Public
holiday.
-
Any member on Brown Watch working an overtime
shift on 3 January will have that overtime calculated as if the
day was a Public Holiday.
-
Any member of Blue or Green Watch who worked
overtime on 3 January, will have the overtime calculated as for a
regular Tuesday. For them, 1 January (when they worked normally)
was observed as a Public Holiday.
The Union’s Court action claims a Day in Lieu for
all normal shifts worked on a Public Holiday, or the day observed as
a Public Holiday.
Holidays Act
Proceedings
The Fire
Service has advised they expect to file at least part of their case
on appeal sometime next week. Once the case has been filed, a date
for the hearing can be established.
The Union has been advised that Business New Zealand has applied for
party status at the hearing. Business New Zealand applied and was
granted party status at the Employment Court hearing.
Transferring of Public Holidays to other
dates
The Union’s
understanding of the transferring provision was set out in
Newsletter of 22 December 2005. It would seem that once again the
Fire Service has difficulty in understanding clear English, as the
relevant Section of the Holidays Act is quite explicit:
Section 45
Transfer of public holidays over Christmas and New Year provides
inter alia -
If Christmas or New Year’s Day:
-
Falls on
a Sunday and the day would otherwise be a working day for the
employee, the public holiday must be treated as falling on that
day.
-
Falls on
a Sunday and the day would not otherwise be a working day for the
employee, the public holiday must be treated as falling on the
following Tuesday.
What this
means for the 2005/2006 Christmas/New Year period when Christmas and
New Year’s Day fell on a Sunday is as follows:
-
Blue and
Green Watches worked on 25 December and 1 January. These public
holidays are observed on the actual day itself.
-
Brown and
Red Watches did not work on 25 December or 1 January and therefore
for those workers, the public holiday is transferred to Tuesday 27
December and 3 January.
-
Red Watch
was rostered to work on 27 December and 3 January and that is the
day for them observed as Christmas and New Year’s Day. The
Union’s Court actions claim a Day in Lieu for Red Watch on 27
December and 3 January.
Any Brown Watch worker who
worked an Overtime Shift on any part of 27 December or 3 January has
that overtime shift treated as if it is a public holiday – i.e.
public holiday overtime rates plus a Day in Lieu.
The Union is aware that in some cases the above rules have not been
applied, and the Union has formally disputed this with the Fire
Service. Please advise the Union if you believe you have also not
received what you are entitled to.
Sickness or Bereavement Leave on a
Public Holiday
Again the Fire Service
seems unable to understand plain English. The Holidays Act
provisions again are very clear.
Section 61 of the Act provides inter alia -
Any employee who is required to work on a public holiday but does
not work because of sickness, injury at home or bereavement:
-
The public holiday is
treated as a public holiday not as sick or bereavement leave i.e.
no deduction from leave entitlement.
-
The employee is paid
their relevant daily pay for the day.
-
The employee is not
entitled to a Day in Lieu
Again the Union is aware of
cases where these rules have not been applied, and the Union has
formally raised this with the Fire Service. If you believe you have
not received your proper entitlement, please contact the Union.
Fire Service
Application to Appeal
Employment
Court Decision Granted
The Court of Appeal has granted the Fire
Service’s application to appeal the Employment Court decision
regarding Days in Lieu.
There is no indication at
this time, as to when that hearing will occur, but it is unlikely to
be this year. However, the Union will be strongly putting a case for
urgency.
There also still appears
to be some confusion as to when a member is entitled to take Days in
Lieu that are currently provided (i.e. for working an overtime shift
on a Public Holiday). The rules are quite clear:
-
There must initially be
an attempt at an agreement between the worker and the employer.
-
If agreement is not
possible, then on a date determined by the worker.
If you wish therefore to
take a Day in Lieu you are entitled to, you are entitled to ask and
be given that Day in Lieu on another Public Holiday.
Court of Appeal hears Fire
Service
Leave to Appeal Application
Today the Court of Appeal in Wellington sat to
hear the Fire Service’s Application for Leave to Appeal against the
decision of the Employment Court.
The Appeal Court was made up of three Judges, Judges Hammond,
Willie-Young and Pankhurst.
Counsel for the New Zealand Fire Service, Bill Wilson QC, argued the
five points which the Fire Service believed the Employment Court
erred as a matter of law:
The Union’s Counsel of Mr Peter Cranney and Anthea
Hughes argued that the issues raised were not errors of law within
the jurisdiction of the Court but were related to interpretations of
the employment contract.
Members should note that the role of the Court of Appeal, under the
Employment Relations Act, is to deal with points of law rather than
the interpretation of employment contracts.
After both legal counsel answered questions put to them by the Court
of Appeal, Judge Hammond indicated that the Court may allow the Fire
Service to develop and prepare a Memorandum to the Court, setting
out more clearly specific questions of law, for consideration.
The Court adjourned and on reconvening, Judge Hammond put to Wilson
one final question relating to the argument of when a day begins and
ends, for the purposes of assessing when work is performed on a
public holiday see page
4, paragraph 8 (v)
.
The hearing concluded with the Court of Appeal not seeking further
opportunity for the Fire Service to submit a further Memorandum.
Judge Hammond announced that the Court would not give a decision
today and that the decision would be reserved.
While considering the Court’s significant case load, Judge Hammond
did advise the Court that the judgement would be made “relatively
promptly”.
The outcome of this hearing allows either the Fire Service to
proceed to the Court of Appeal for a substantive hearing before a
full Court (with a possible appeal by either party to the Supreme
Court); or whether, the judgement of the Employment Court is
upheld.
Clearly there is no timeframe given and members will be advised of
any developments.
Fire Service seeks to appeal public
holiday decision
The Fire Service today applied to appeal an
Employment Court ruling on firefighters working public holidays –
which could cost it up to $5.5 million a year – and claimed it has
implications for all shift workers.
The Employment Court in August ruled firefighters should be granted
a day off for each public holiday worked, a decision the Fire
Service estimated could cost between $3.5 and $5.5 million per year
plus backpay to April 1, 2004, when the Holidays Act 2003 came into
effect.
Fire Service lawyer Bill Wilson, QC said the Employment Court had
made errors of law in its decision.
Firefighters received 32 days off each year, of which 21 days were
annual leave and the remainder were provided to ensure a day's leave
for any of the 11 statutory holidays worked.
"From the view of the fire service, it is a generous assumption
because it is highly unlikely any firefighter would be required to
work all 11 days," he told the Court of Appeal. This was because of
four-day on, four-day off rosters and the likelihood some statutory
holidays would fall in the annual leave period.
It needed to be determined whether there was any material changes
between the Holidays Act 1991 as interpreted by the Employment Court
and the new law, Mr Wilson said.
There was also a question over whether a leave day could be
otherwise a working day. "If otherwise a working day, it cannot be
invoked to fulfil a holiday day."
"These are matters of general and public importance," Mr Wilson
said.
The ruling had "very real significance" for any shift workers, such
as those in the health sector.
"Air New Zealand has already obtained leave to appeal to this court
over holiday entitlements."
However, Professional Firefighters Union lawyer Peter Cranney said
the 11 days in 32 was incorrect and firefighters had 28 days holiday
over the next three years.
"Some years workers are working all 11 of the holidays," he told the
court. The average was some eight to nine public holidays.
It was a controversy the Employment Court had recognised but deemed
unnecessary to rule on.
"The Employment Court found it is a matter of contractual
interpretation."
Contractual issues were not matters for determination by the Court
of Appeal, Mr Cranney said.
"These issues which are before the court are exclusively matters of
interpretation of the contract and beyond the jurisdiction of this
court."
Professional Firefighters secretary Derek Best said the union was
disappointed the case was back in court after its apparent victory
in August.
"We certainly want to get it resolved," he said.
"The longer it goes on, there are potentially more and more days
building up for the firefighters. That means not getting
entitlements due now and dealing with the backlog."
Mr Best said he doubted other shift workers would be affected by the
Employment Court ruling because the firefighters' collective
agreement was very specific to firefighters.
The three-judge bench reserved its decision.
The case
-
The Employment Court has said
firefighters must have a day off for each public holiday they work.
-
The Fire Service wants to appeal
against the decision, saying the days off are already given on top
of annual leave.
-
The Fire Service says other shift
workers, such as aircraft crew, could also be affected.
- NZPA
Days in Lieu - Court of Appeal
The Union has been advised that the Court of
Appeal will hear the Fire Service’s Leave to Appeal application on
14 November 2005.
The Union’s lawyers have responded to the Fire Service’s
application and the Union is strongly opposing the application.
The Union is also advised that on 3 October 2005, the Employment
Court granted the Fire Service’s application for a Stay of its
decision on the Days in Lieu. This Stay will remain in force at
least until the Court of Appeal hearing. The Stay has the effect of
freezing any applications to use Days in Lieu.
Days in Lieu
The Fire Service’s decision to appeal the
Employment Court’s decision has meant no further discussion of the
implementation of that decision.
The initial step in the appeal process is that the Fire Service has
sought leave to appeal. It is expected this hearing will be held
reasonable quickly.
If leave is granted by the Court to appeal on all or any of the
grounds set out, it would usually be some months before the
substantive hearing was heard in the Court of Appeal and a decision
given.
The Union is considering whether to oppose the Leave to Appeal
application.
The Union is aware that a number of members have applied to take
Days in Lieu so far accumulated. As a consequence, the Fire Service
has advised they intend to apply to the Employment Court for a Stay
of Proceedings until the appeal process is completed.
Acting on legal advice, the Union will indicate to the Employment
Court at this Application for a Stay, that it will abide the
decision of the Court. If such a Stay is granted, this would have
the effect of freezing the use of Days in Lieu.
The Union and the Fire Service have agreed that a Joint Memorandum
will be put to the Court of Appeal asking for as much priority as
possible to be given to the resolution of this matter.
The Union does not know at this stage when either the stay of
proceedings or the application to seek leave to appeal will be
heard, and members will be advised when dates are known.
Holidays Act Appeal
Posted 17/09/2005 7:49:03
Courtesy of Newstalk ZB
Firefighters say they are not surprised, but are disappointed their
employer is appealing a decision giving them a day off in lieu if
they work on a public holiday.
Last month the Employment Court ruled the new Holidays Act means
firefighters are entitled to the day off.
The Fire Service is now taking the matter to the Appeal Court.
Union spokesman Derek Best says firefighters had thought they were
in constructive discussions with their employer about how to
implement the change.
He says with an appeal hanging over their heads, they will have to
re-evaluate the negotiations.
The Fire Service says the change will cost it between $3.5 million
and $5.5 million a year.
The Fire Service is now taking the matter to the Appeal Court.
Mr Best says it is concerning workers are having to fight so hard to
get what the government had determined they are entitled to.
The Fire Service says the legal issues have implications for other
employers.
Message from CEO Mike
Hall
Good afternoon
This afternoon the Fire Service Commission filed an application for
leave from the Court of Appeal to appeal the Employment Court's
recent judgment on the Holidays Act. In deciding to appeal the
judgment, the Commission considered a range of important
organisational factors and sought extensive legal advice. Some of
the legal and financial issues are significant and relate to the
interpretation of the Holidays Act 2003, not only for the Fire
Service but potentially for other employers.
In the past two weeks I have had constructive discussions with the
NZ Professional Firefighters Union over the impact of the judgment.
Despite the decision to appeal the judgment, I anticipate that these
discussions will continue.
Mike Hall
Chief Executive/National Commander
Holiday Appeal
Documents Now Online
Days in Lieu
Members will be aware that since the Employment Court decision, the
Union has been meeting with the Fire Service in an effort to work
through some issues that have arisen as a consequence of the
successful outcome of the Court case.
The issue of M.S.M. has been a major guiding principle of the
Firefighters Union, based both on the Health and Safety of
firefighters and ensuring a proper response to the needs of the
public in times of emergency.
Those involved in the Union’s battle throughout the 90’s will
remember the many and varied tactics that the employer attempted
including inducements and bribes to get reduced crews on fire
appliances.
Clearly, with the number of days that members are now entitled to as
a result of the Court case, there will be times when M.S.M. may be
placed in jeopardy if not managed correctly.
The Union, therefore, does not wish to allow M.S.M. to be
compromised by the employer’s actions and as such, has put to Fire
Service Management a proposal to deal with this matter.
The Union is advised that a special meeting of the Commission is to
be held on Wednesday 14 September to consider whether or not to
appeal the Employment Court decision. Any Notice of Appeal must be
filed by Monday 19 September.
It is the Union’s understanding that the National Commander (Mike
Hall) and the National Manager of Human Resources (Vincent Arbuckle)
will be delivering a paper to the Commission on the Days in Lieu
issues and the facts relevant to making a decision to seek an appeal
on this Court case or not.
The Union is of the view that the paper will cover proposals to deal
with the Days in Lieu issue such as:
-
Buying back details.
-
Increasing establishment numbers.
-
Creating part-time/casual positions within
establishments.
-
Probability of running below M.S.M., as a result of persons taking
their Days in Lieu.
The
Union finds the implications of some of these proposals completely
unacceptable as they would lead to significant ongoing employment
problems and an unnecessary deterioration of workplace relations.
This is a situation that the Union believes must be avoided. We
have all seen the legacy left by the C.S.T. concept and the ‘Way
Forward’ proposal. Dredging them up again would be totally
counter-productive to the current Fire Service environment.
The Union has, therefore, in general terms, proposed the following
methodology of dealing with Days in Lieu entitlement based on
maintaining M.S.M. and fairness and equity for members to have
access to their accumulated lieu days.
General Principles.
-
The
portion of members’ lieu days that are outside of the 12-month
time frame be bought back by the employer.
-
The
Union and Fire Service to agree on a suitable rate that the
employer could buy back their lieu day entitlement. This would be
a per shift rate for both day and night shifts.
The
remaining balance be dealt with as follows:
Non High Demand Days/Nights.
This
process currently operates now for A.S.L. (Service Holiday) and
present Days in Lieu applications. No real changes or new
processes.
High Demand Days/Nights.
e.g. Christmas/New Year Holidays. Maybe some others, if demand
deems it necessary over time.
Staff
members wishing to make themselves available to cover shift of the
same period will be required to submit notification of their
availability within the same timeframe.
-
Upon the collation of both application and notification of
availability to match M.S.M., the Union will undertake a formal
ballot matching up the application with expressions of interest
from those members wishing to maintain M.S.M.
-
Members who are unsuccessful will have their application declined
and will then need to make alternative arrangements if they
require a Day in Lieu.
A
detailed proposal still needs working through, but the Union
believes that with the full co-operation of Fire Service Management
and the commitment of the Union and its members, a workable solution
is achievable. Notwithstanding this, the Union acknowledges that
members have individual rights but recognises the needs of the
public and the safety of firefighters to be significant. We also
would expect the Fire Service to amend policies that currently would
restrict our ability to maintain M.S.M.
Holidays
Act Update
A
preliminary meeting was held on Thursday 1 September between Mike
McEnaney, Derek Best and Mike Hall to commence
discussions on the implementation of the Employment Court’s
decision.
The
Union outlined a number of key positions:
-
A
decision from the Fire Service on whether there is an intention to
appeal is necessary as soon as possible. Work on implementation
details can only be worthwhile if the decision is not appealed.
-
The Union will not
make any agreement regarding the mass selling of Days in Lieu
accrued back to 1 April 2004. However, the Union noted that
members can, if the employer agrees, sell back days that have
accrued for more than 12 months. A rate for such sellback will
need to be agreed.
-
The
Union will not make any agreement that the existing amount of
Annual Leave would provide compliance with the new minimum leave
entitlement of 4 weeks that comes into force on 1 April 2007. In
fact the Union’s position, after seeking legal advice, is that
members will be entitled to a further week’s leave on 1 April
2007.
-
The
Union has two objectives as far as implementing the Court’s
decision:
It is expected that
a further meeting will take place early next week to further explore
the options available.
Full Court Judgment
now online
Checkpoint Transcripts now
online
NZPFU
txt-alert reached Member in
Lebanese
cave on Syrian border
|

|
Currently on leave from the NZFS and back in Lebanon to catch
up with friends and relatives, Mau has relied on his subscription
to the NZPFU txt-message news alert service.
Mau is staying in relative comfort in a family owned "cave"
believed to have been in the family for well over 700 years which
is nestled in a remote hillside community in Lebanon approx one
and a half hours from Beirut somewhere near the Syrian border.
Even on holiday the big man has been eager to hear of any news
regarding the Holidays Act debacle.
Overjoyed at the latest success of the NZPFU and being one of the
first to hear of the news which is in itself remarkable
considering the distance between the two countries, Mau plans to
celebrate in style.
|
He is looking forward to getting back into the rigours of
everyday Comms Centre work and will still be taking time out for a
celebratory drink to commemorate the win and to toast the NZPFU
and all his colleagues.
Media Reaction on Win
Firefighters win holiday battle
Employment Court says firefighters have been treated unfairly
because they get no day off for working on public holidays...
Read More
Fire crew win lieu day battle
The Fire Service faces a
multimillion-dollar bill and might have to employ more firefighters
after losing a long-running employment dispute...
Read More
Firefighters win holidays
claim
Firefighters have won a battle in the Employment Court to be granted
a day off for each public holiday they work...
Read More
Firefighters' decision being analysed
The Fire Service is analysing an Employment Court
decision, which may have an impact on other emergency service
workers...
Read More
Firefighters' decision could have flow on for other workers
An Employment Court ruling that firefighters should be granted a day
off for each public holiday they work could have implications for
other emergency services and shift workers...
Read More
Total Victory for
NZPFU in Holidays Act
Case
In a decision issued late Monday, 22 August
2005, the full
Court of the Employment Court has found in favour of the NZPFU’s
claim that its members are entitled to take another working day off
for each public holiday worked.
The decision means that all members
are now owed significant numbers of days off, which have been
unlawfully denied to them since 1 April 2004, when the new Holidays
legislation came into force.
The full Court (comprising Judges Travis and Shaw and Chief Judge
Colgan) rejected the employer’s arguments. Mr. Bill Wilson QC and
Geoff Davenport of Broadmore Barnett had argued that the 14 days
leave in 160 currently received were all “working days”, and that
all 14 were being used by the employer to satisfy its obligation to
give alternative days off to Union members who work on public
holidays.
The full Court preferred the argument of the Union’s solicitors,
Peter Cranney and Anthea Connor from Oakley Moran.
The Court held that the 14 days in 160 were not working days, and
that the employer must grant additional days. Significantly, the
Court also rejected the employer’s argument that public holidays
begin at 8am in the Fire Service. The decision means that any
member who has worked between 0001 and 2400 hours on any public
holiday since 1 April 2004 is entitled to a full day off in
recompense.
There are also provisions in the new Holidays Act which may allow
some of those to be “sold” to the employer for a cash payment,
although the details of this will need negotiation with the Fire
Service.
Given that the Fire Service has 28 days in which to determine
whether to appeal the decision to the Court of Appeal, no
implementation of the decision is likely until that timeframe has
expired.
The Union is currently consulting its lawyers, and no doubt will
meet the Fire Service shortly. Further details of what precisely
the decision means, and its implementation will be provided as soon
as possible once these discussions have been concluded.
Union Publishes Stat Holiday Data
To answer this question we added up all the
Statutory Holidays actually worked by each of the Leave
Groups from 1 April 2004 to 31 March 2019. We have ranked
them in order from lowest to highest below:
|
Best! |
RED3 |
88 |
|
|
RED9 |
90 |
|
|
BROWN3 |
91 |
|
|
RED6 |
93 |
|
|
GREEN9 |
94 |
|
|
RED2 |
95 |
|
|
GREEN2 |
96 |
|
|
GREEN6 |
96 |
|
|
RED10 |
96 |
|
|
BROWN7 |
96 |
|
|
BROWN9 |
96 |
|
|
BROWN10 |
96 |
|
|
BLUE9 |
96 |
|
|
GREEN3 |
97 |
|
|
RED5 |
97 |
|
|
BROWN6 |
97 |
|
|
BLUE3 |
97 |
|
|
BLUE10 |
97 |
|
|
RED7 |
98 |
|
|
BROWN1 |
98 |
|
|
BLUE1 |
98 |
|
|
BLUE5 |
98 |
|
|
GREEN1 |
99 |
|
|
GREEN5 |
99 |
|
|
GREEN8 |
99 |
|
|
RED1 |
99 |
|
|
RED4 |
99 |
|
|
RED8 |
99 |
|
|
BROWN4 |
99 |
|
|
BROWN5 |
99 |
|
|
BLUE7 |
99 |
|
|
BROWN2 |
100 |
|
|
BROWN8 |
100 |
|
|
BLUE6 |
100 |
|
|
BLUE2 |
101 |
|
|
BLUE4 |
101 |
|
|
GREEN7 |
103 |
|
|
GREEN10 |
103 |
|
|
BLUE8 |
103 |
|
Worst! |
GREEN4 |
104 |
| Who works all 11 Stat Days? |
Who will work only 2? |
| BLUE6
(2004) |
GREEN2
(2005) |
| BLUE7
(2004) |
RED6
(2010) |
| BLUE8
(2004) |
RED3
(2016) |
| BLUE10
(2004) |
|
| BROWN5
(2007) |
|
| BROWN6
(2007) |
|
GREEN9 and
BLUE6 cop all 12 Statutory
Holidays in the year 1 April 2004 to 31 March 2005.
GREEN9 works 8 of those days and
BLUE6 works 11. The
remainder, to total 12, fall while the employee is on annual
leave.
The above scenario (where
BLUE6 cops all 12 Statutory Holidays) occurs only in
the Auckland and Canterbury Provinces. A Wellingtonian on
BLUE6 cops only a maximum of
10 Statutory Holidays ever over the 15 year period. This is
due to the respective Anniversary Days falling on different dates.
Yes it's true! Check it out for yourself - click here to view
the NZPFU Holiday Data.
See the answer to this scenario above. This
is the only watch and leave group ever to cop 12 Statutory
Holidays. Applies to all provinces (Auckland, Wellington and
Canterbury Anniversary Days). Also due to the fact that
Easter falls twice in the same year (April 2004 and March 2005).
-
The Green 1 Court case study - we
detail who gets only 28 days annual leave for 3 years running...
-
But is it possible to get 70 days
annual leave over 2 years? Yes it is, we'll show you which
watch and leave group you need to change to...
In fact, most people no matter what leave group
you are allocated get only 28 days annual leave in any one year.
Some employees can work 3 years straight and receive 28 days
annual leave for each of the years worked. The opposite is
also true, and it is possible to find many combinations where
adding any 2 years in a row an employee receives 70 days annual
leave. Green 1 was one case study that was used in Court.
We added up all the Annual Leave days actually received by each of
the Leave Groups from 1 April 2004 to 31 March 2019. We have
ranked them in order from highest to lowest below:
|
Best! |
GREEN3 |
490 |
|
Best! |
GREEN4 |
490 |
|
Best! |
RED3 |
490 |
|
Best! |
BROWN3 |
490 |
|
Best! |
BLUE3 |
490 |
|
|
RED4 |
489 |
|
|
BROWN4 |
487 |
|
|
BLUE2 |
487 |
|
|
BROWN2 |
485 |
|
|
BLUE4 |
485 |
|
|
RED2 |
483 |
|
|
GREEN2 |
481 |
|
Worst! |
GREEN1 |
476 |
|
Worst! |
GREEN5 |
476 |
|
Worst! |
GREEN6 |
476 |
|
Worst! |
GREEN7 |
476 |
|
Worst! |
GREEN8 |
476 |
|
Worst! |
GREEN9 |
476 |
|
Worst! |
GREEN10 |
476 |
|
Worst! |
RED1 |
476 |
|
Worst! |
RED5 |
476 |
|
Worst! |
RED6 |
476 |
|
Worst! |
RED7 |
476 |
|
Worst! |
RED8 |
476 |
|
Worst! |
RED9 |
476 |
|
Worst! |
RED10 |
476 |
|
Worst! |
BROWN1 |
476 |
|
Worst! |
BROWN5 |
476 |
|
Worst! |
BROWN6 |
476 |
|
Worst! |
BROWN7 |
476 |
|
Worst! |
BROWN8 |
476 |
|
Worst! |
BROWN9 |
476 |
|
Worst! |
BROWN10 |
476 |
|
Worst! |
BLUE1 |
476 |
|
Worst! |
BLUE5 |
476 |
|
Worst! |
BLUE6 |
476 |
|
Worst! |
BLUE7 |
476 |
|
Worst! |
BLUE8 |
476 |
|
Worst! |
BLUE9 |
476 |
|
Worst! |
BLUE10 |
476 |
The NZPFU Holidays Data Homepage allows members to
select individual leave groups and see actual Statutory Holidays
worked. Data displayed gets as technical as you want it and
includes
Box plots, Means, SD, SE, 95% CI of Mean, Median, IQR
and 95% CI of Median...
Judges Decision Reserved
|
:: Recap of Day
1 - Employment Court Action - 2 May 2005 |
Monday has seen the commencement of the
Employment Court hearing in regards to the Holidays Act Proceedings
before a full bench of the Employment Court.
Presiding were Judges G Colgan, B Travis and C M Shaw.
Counsel for the Union is Mr Peter Cranney and Ms Anthea Hughes.
Also present on behalf of the NZPFU was your National President
Michael McEnaney, National Vice President John Devereux, National
Secretary Derek Best, Wellington Local Vice President Rob Hutchison and Jaron Phillips
NZPFU webmaster & witness, and other Union members from the
Wellington Local.
Counsel for the Fire Service is Mr Bill Wilson QC and Mr Geoff
Davenport
Mr Cranney attempted to open the case at which time the Fire Service
objected to the evidence which was to be given by the two Union
witnesses (Mr Derek Best & Mr Jaron Phillips).
The Fire Services’ argument centred on the admissibility of our
witnesses evidence and took up almost an hour and half of the Courts
time. The Fire Service’s objection centred on the Union’s response
to evidence which the Union submitted was inadmissible. The Union
was particularly concerned about some of the proposed evidence of Mr
Summers.
The Fire Service sought to have all evidence struck out and if not
to have the case adjourned in full, or the case only part heard,
consequently requiring a further hearing date.
Obviously such request to the Court could only result in further
ongoing delays which would have continued to have stalled the case
until such time well into the future given the current heavy work
load of the Employment Court.
Given that it had taken the Union almost 12-months to get to this
stage of the first full Employment Court hearing any adjournment was
opposed by the Union’s lawyers.
The outcome was an agreement that the briefs of evidence of both
sides be reduced, and no adjournment resulted.
After the Unions lawyers opening submission was delivered to the
Court, the Union called as their first witness, National Secretary
Mr Best. Mr Best gave evidence to the Court and was subsequently
cross examined by Mr Wilson QC. Mr Best’s evidence focussed on
various aspects of the firefighters contract, the relationship and
implications of the new Holidays Act and the history relating to the
current contract and the clauses where the Fire Service will be
required to demonstrate compliance with the intent and entitlements
of the new legislation (see clause 2.7.1 of the CEA).
Mr Jaron Phillips, an Auckland member & Brown Watch Senior
Communicator of NorthComm, appeared as an expert statistician for
the Union and gave evidence about the numbers of public holidays
worked by members, in respect of which days in lieu are sought. He
referred to detailed research about that issue, which identified
every public holiday for every watch and every leave group for the
next 15 years. He also criticised the Fire Service’s evidence as
not accurate. Mr Phillips emphasised under cross-examination the
importance of using actual days rather than averages when dealing
with days in lieu issues.
Regardless of the outcome of the case, Jaron’s research will be made
available to all members through the Union’s Web site.
|
|
:: Recap of Day 2 - Employment Court
Action - 3 May 2005 |
Day two of the Holidays Act case commenced with the Fire
Service lawyers opening submissions to the Court. That was
then followed by two witnesses giving evidence in support of the
Fire Service's opposition to the Union's claim.
The first witness was Geoff Summers. The Union opposed a
significant amount of the evidence which was to be given by Geoff
Summers. This was subsequently agreed and his brief of
evidence was consequently significantly reduced.
Mr Summers was cross examined by the Unions lawyer, Mr Peter Cranney.
The second witness for the Fire Service was Vincent Arbuckle.
His evidence was presented to the Court and he, likewise, was cross
examined.
In both cases, some of the evidence that the two witnesses gave was
extremely enlightening with respect to Fire Service Managements view
of Employee entitlements and the day to day operation of the New
Zealand Fire Service.
More details regarding their evidence will be released in due
course.
Also providing evidence and a submission in support of the New
Zealand Fire Service was Mr Tim Cleary, a lawyer for Business New
Zealand.
The parties then went on to give their closing submissions.
Both parties sought the opportunity to make last minute verbal
submissions in reply to each of the parties documented closing
submissions.
Summing up was concluded at 1730hrs tonight.
Chief Employment Court Judge Travis outlined to the parties that
"not surprisingly, the Court will not be deciding today" and
consequently, the decision was reserved. |
| |
Fire Service suffers another defeat at
the
hands of the Courts
The Fire Service has suffered another defeat at the hands of the
Courts.
The Court of Appeal today declined the employers application for
leave to appeal the Employment Court's strike out decision.
The Union expects the matter to now go to trial commencing in the
Employment Court on the 2nd of May for a full substantive hearing.
Further comment on this decision is expected shortly.
Fire Service argues
that
Employment Court
"made an error"
The Court of Appeal has reserved its decision on
the New Zealand Fire Service’s application for leave to appeal the
recent Employment Court decision.
Members will recall that the Employment Court declined to “strike
out” the NZPFU’s claim for days in lieu for time worked on public
holidays. Before the employer is entitled to appeal that decision,
it must seek the “leave” of the Court of Appeal. That preliminary
issue was heard today.
The employer’s lawyer, Bill Wilson QC, argued that the Employment
Court made an error in the way it handled the case. According to
Wilson, the Employment Court should have decided whether there were
any new arguments under the Holidays Act 2003. Instead, the
Employment Court had only decided that the issue was “arguable”.
For the Union, Peter Cranney of Oakley Moran argued that the matter
must now be heard on its merits in the Employment Court. He was
assisted by Anthea Hughes of Oakley Moran.
Mr Cranney stated that the effect of the Employment Court’s decision
was to decide that there were new issues to argue. The
matter should now go to trial.
The three Court of Appeal judges (Hammond, O’Regan and McGrath)
questioned both sides closely. They reserved the decision. Members
can expect the decision to be announced in the near future with a
likely timeframe of within one week. If leave to appeal is not
granted, the matter will go to trial commencing 2 May 2005.
|
:: NZPFU Enters to the
Tui 'Yeah Right Competition' - 19 January 2005 |

|
:: Notice to Members
24/2004 - 23 December 2004 |
Further
to
NTM 23/2004
that reported in detail on the Fire Service’s actions in this
dispute, the Union has now been advised that the Court of Appeal
has set 14 March 2005 to hear the Fire Service’s appeal.
As
detailed in yesterday’s Newsletter, the Employment Court had
tentatively set 28 February – 2 March 2005 to hear the
substantive issue. The dates are now overtaken by the date set
by the Appeal Court.
The Union repeats to members its serious concerns at the
continuing delaying tactics of the Fire Service.
Members might like to directly ask Mike
Hall why he is taking every step to prevent the Courts actually
determining the actual issue – whether the Fire
Service is providing an alternative Day in Lieu for Public
Holidays that are worked.
|
:: Notice to Members
23/2004 - 22 December 2004 |
The
Union was surprised and disappointed to learn of the decision by the
Fire Service to appeal the Employment Court decision that dismissed
the Fire Service’s application to strike out our case.
The
Fire Service has filed papers in the Court of Appeal applying for
leave to appeal the Employment Court decision.
The
Union sees this as simply a continuation of the delaying tactics the
Fire Service has used throughout this whole dispute.
After
mediation, our case was commenced in the Employment Relations
Authority in April 2004. The Union’s submission was to have the
dispute referred directly to the Employment Court. It was self
evident that the dispute would end up in the Court and the Union’s
application saved time and money for both parties.
The
Fire Service opposed the Union’s application arguing the Authority
should hear the dispute and that the Union’s case had no merit and
should be struck out.
The
Fire Service failed in their argument and the Authority referred the
dispute to the Employment Court. A full bench of the Employment
Court (3 Judges) next heard the dispute. Again, the Fire Service
refused to argue the merits of the case and again argued that the
case be struck out.
The
Employment Court unanimously rejected the Fire Service’s case saying
that the Union’s argument “was tenable and may succeed”. The
Court also held that the substantive hearing be heard with urgency.
Tentative dates for this substantive hearing are 28 February – 2
March 2005. These dates are now in jeopardy because of the decision
of the Fire Service to appeal the Employment Court Judgment.
There
are even further delays as the Fire Service first must argue in the
Court of Appeal for leave to appeal. Only if this is granted can
the Fire Service make their strike out application to the Court of
Appeal.
There
are two conclusions that can be drawn from the Fire Service’s
actions:
- They want to cost the Union the
maximum possible in terms of both money and resources, particularly
the time of officials.
- They are so unconfident of their
position they don’t want to argue the actual issue in dispute in the
Court.
Mike
Hall explicitly stated at the recent Partnership Conference (more
about this later in this newsletter), that he had no problem with
letting the Court decide this issue. However in fact the Fire
Service’s approach has simply been one of putting all obstacles in
the way of letting the Courts decide.
Given
that the Employment Court has tentatively set aside three days to
hear the substantive matter (28 February – 2 March), the Union has
submitted to the Court of Appeal that the Fire Service’s application
be heard with urgency.
|
:: 21 December 2004 -
Information from the CEO/National Commander... |
The NZPFU has challenged the adequacy of the
extended leave provisions contained in the Collective Employment
Agreement. The Union's claim is that although the leave provisions
complied with the requirements of the Holidays Act 1981, they do not
comply with the new Holidays Act that came into force in April 2004.
There has been a long-standing agreement between the
Union and the Fire Service on the question of leave. That agreement
was upheld in an Employment Court decision in 1996.
The cost implications of the Union's claim are
potentially very significant.
The present approved Fire Service budget does not
provide for such a cost.
It is also possible that the existing personnel
establishment may not be sufficient to cover the additional leave
requirements and, as a result, the establishment may need to
increase.
Given the significant budget operational
implications of the Union's claim, the Fire Service must take
careful legal advice on the matter, particularly as there are
potential implications for levy payers.
The Fire Service Commission was briefed on the
Union's claims last week and considered legal advice regarding the
options available following the Employment Court's recent decision
not to allow the matter to be struck out.
Acting on legal advice, the Commission has
determined to appeal the Employment Court's decision and papers were
filed with the Court of Appeal last week.
Depending upon the outcome of the appeal, the matter will either be
decided at the Court of Appeal or be referred back to the Employment
Court for a full hearing.
The issues in this case are important and the costs
are large, which is why the guidance of the Court is being sought.
The organisation has no wish to extend the litigation process
unnecessarily but is motivated by a desire to fully clarify the
impact of the Holidays Act. A number of other industries are in a
similar position in needing to clarify the intent of the
legislation. Once clarified, we will observe whatever decision the
Courts determine.
Mike Hall
Chief Executive/National Commander
Holidays Act
Victory for NZPFU
Chief Executive Mike Hall’s attempt to have
the Union’s Holidays Act case struck out ended in disaster for the
Fire Service today. A full Court of three judges threw out the Fire
Service’s application and ruled that the matter must now go to trial
urgently. The Court stated that the Union’s argument was “not only
tenable but has some chance of succeeding”.
The case is the second defeat for the Chief
Executive – he already had argued unsuccessfully in the Employment
Relations Authority that the matter should be struck out. The
Authority declined to strike out and instead decided to remove the
issue to the Employment Court. A full Court was convened to hear
that matter.
Judges Tom Goddard, Barry Travis and Coral Shaw
heard the case on 11 and 12 November 2004. The Union was
represented by Peter Cranney and Anthea O’Connor of Oakley Moran.
The Fire Service was represented by a Queen’s Counsel Bill Wilson
and by Derek Broadmore of Broadmore Barnett.
The main argument between the parties related
to days in lieu for work on public holidays. The new Holidays Act
provides that days in lieu be taken on days that would otherwise be
working days. The Court stated that this meant “a day when the
employee is rostered to work”. The Fire Service claimed to grant
days in lieu on days when workers are not rostered to work –
that is, during annual leave.
In declining to strike that matter out, the
Judges noted that there was some support for the Union’s position in
many different sections of the new Act.
The Court stated:
“ …we hold that the union and its members of
today are entitled to litigate the validity, not under the Holidays
Act 1981, but under the supervening Holidays Act 2003, of the
provisions for public holidays contained in the collective agreement
in the respects in which the union in this case brings a challenge
to those provisions”.
That matter will now be heard as soon as
possible by the same three judges.
The Union notes the efforts of Peter Cranney and Anthea O’Connor and recognises the effort put in so
far. Members will be kept informed of any developments.
|
:: Day 1 - Thursday - 11
November 2004... |
Hearing the matter is a full bench of employment court judges
consisting of Judges Goddard (Chief judge of Employment Court),
Travis and Shaw.
The Fire Service, as the respondent, opened by speaking to their
submission to have "struck out" the Unions case. The Fire
Service were represented by
Bill Wilson QC (Queens Council)
assisted by Derek Broadmore. Also present from the NZFS was
Vince Arbuckle, Steven Fraser and Jeff Davenport.
Wilson's verbal submission lasted until
about 1pm and included a variety of questions posed by the judges.
The court adjourned.
When it reconvened, the Union
respectfully submitted that the "strike out" application be
dismissed. This submission was put by Mr Peter Cranney &
Anthea Connor and their legal team - members of the National Council
(Michael McEnaney, John Devereux & Derek Best) and
Jaron Phillips.
Rob Hutchison (Wellington Local) was also present in the
Courtroom.
The Unions submission went through to the adjournment of the court.
|
:: Day 2 - Friday -
12 November 2004... |
|
Today has seen the closing arguments put
forward by the Unions Lawyer, Mr Peter Cranney.
|
.jpg) |
In summing up, Mr Cranney covered:
-
First submission - Union not a party
The Union was not a party to the Small litigation. Neither was
it privy to any party. In those circumstances there can be no
cause of action estoppel or issue estoppel.
-
Second submission - cause of action
different, no issue determined in Small binding on Union in
this proceeding
The cause of action in this case is not the same as that determined
in Small; and there is no legal or factual issue determined in Small
which can be regarded as a final determination of any factual
issue in this proceeding.
-
Third submission - cross estoppel
The Respondent is himself estopped from asserting an estoppel
because of the terms of the current collective employment agreement
which can be freely entered into.
-
Fourth submission - public policy,
breach of statutory duty and illegality
Even if made out, the asserted estoppel is defeated because:
-
it is contrary to public policy and the
public interest.
-
It cannot lie so as to hinder the
performance of the statutory obligations imposed on the Respondent
by the Holidays Act 2003.
-
It cannot be countenanced because it
would lead to a situation precluded by the law.
At the completion of the Unions
submission, the NZFS had the right of reply - their response lasted
20-30mins and focused mainly on the fact that the outcome of the
Small case is still the correct position.
The 3 Judges have reserved their
decision and we await the outcome.
Business NZ has appeared as
an interested party in the first Employment Court case on the new
Holidays Act - NZ Air Line Pilots Association v Air NZ Ltd, relating
to relevant daily pay and a half for working a public holiday.
Business NZ was involved because
the issue affects many 7-day employers: whether employees who've
agreed to public holidays being added on to their annual leave
should then also be paid time and a half when working on listed
public holidays.
The decision was reserved.
The NZ Professional
Firefighters Union also has a case before the Employment Court on
the Holidays Act 2003.
Members will recall that the Union
won the first round of the legal argument about the employer’s refusal to grant
an alternative holiday to members for each day worked on a public holiday or
part of a public holiday.
On 4 August 2004, the Employment Relations Authority rejected an employer
attempt to have the matter “struck out” and also upheld the NZPFU’s application
to have the matter removed up to the Employment Court.
A Statement of Claim was immediately filed in the Employment Court by the
Union’s legal team at Oakley Moran.
The Employment Court considers the matter to be of sufficient importance to
convene a “Full Court” of three judges to hear the matter. The next stage of
the case will be a second attempt by the employer to have the matter “struck
out”, this time before the three Employment Court judges. The case will be
heard on 11 and 12 November 2004 in Wellington.
The Fire Service has informed the Union solicitors that it has engaged Mr Bill
Wilson QC (Queens Council) to assist Broadmore Barnett (Fire Service solicitors)
in arguing their case.
The New Zealand Fire
Service has been resoundingly defeated by the Union in the first
round of the legal argument about members’ rights to public
holidays.
Under the Holidays Act 2003,
all members are entitled to a paid alternative holiday in respect of
any time worked on a public holiday or part of a public holiday.
The alternative holiday must be granted on a day that was otherwise
a working day.
In response to the Union’s
legitimate claim the New Zealand Fire Service adopted a dual
strategy. The first part of the strategy was to assert to the
Employment Relations Authority that the Union’s case was so hopeless
that it should be struck out without even being heard.
The second part of the
strategy was to make behind the scenes submissions to the government
seeking changes to the Holidays Act 2003 so as to destroy the
Union’s claim.
The Union, for its part,
wanted the whole matter removed from the Employment Relations
Authority so that the issue can be determined by the Employment
Court. Needless to say, the employer strenuously resisted the
Union’s application.
Following a hearing on 2
August 2004, argued before the Employment Relations Authority by
Peter Cranney of Oakley Moran assisted by Derek Best, the Authority
(Mr Denis Asher) rejected all of the New Zealand Fire Service’s
arguments. The Authority accepted the Union’s argument that the
matter should be properly dealt with by the Court and not the
Authority.
The Authority stated “I am
satisfied that it cannot be said on this occasion that the new
Holidays Act 2003 does not contain major implications for the
contractual relations between these parties. … The question is:
what impact if any has the passage of the new Holidays Act had on
[an earlier case, Small v New
Zealand Fire Service]. It follows
that the Union should be permitted the opportunity to advance its
argument.”
The Authority also commented
on the very significant amount of money involved in the dispute,
that is, about $5,580,000 per annum.
The Authority declined to
strike out the claim and removed it to the Court where it will be
heard in due course. A Statement of Claim has already been filed
and acknowledged by the Employment Court.
Michael McEnaney
President
There has been a significant
amount of work undertaken by the Union’s Legal Team, Peter Cranney
and Anthea Connor, and some excellent research has been completed by
a dedicated group of Union members.
All this has culminated in the following documents
now being filed with the Employment Authority as of Thursday 24
June.
The two relevant documents are:
Help with reading or
downloading the .pdf files
Both documents are available for download so that
members can be fully updated with progress at this point in time.
|
:: Further Links & Articles of
Interest |
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------