Anken and Others v Transit Australia Pty Ltd [1998] QIRC 232 (1998) 158 QGIG 159

r ##-################-############1/#####################-###### QUEENSl.,\:--ID INDUSTRIAi. RF.LATIONS COMMISSION IVorl,11/a,·,, Re/01i,m.v A,·, /<;<J7 ,. � 18 - arplicatinn 1,,r n.:insrntcmcnt John Wi llia111 Anko.:n Ko.:,·in Charle, Donovan R,,y<:c Willirnn Crn1pcr Annt' Dunn AND Tninsit Australia Pt) I .td !No.r. IJ/079. IJ/080. IJ/081 am/ /1/118:} <(/ i'N71 CO\>IMISSIO�'t:R 131-,CHLY '27 iV l:I) 199X L>c,:i:-.ion - Chang.; in Contr;,H;l - l)Pw11:-,i1•n� of Op,.:nuion !"-J��c:-i�ar� Rc<lt10.:1ion in IV,,rkforc.:� - Operational Rcquir,·rncms ,,r Rusinc" - ·rc-nuinations - Applicams Vkmt>o.:rs of Cnion - DbharnWn) in W1)1kf,1rc·c IJCt\\'L't'n Union anJ Nllll�Union Emplt.ly..:..:� - .A.llcgatinn Sdcctic.m l'«>r Termination Due hi l:n1un Membership - l:loth Uni<.>n and Non-Union Employee·, Tcrminato.:d Safctv l�suc, Sdc-:tion Criteria W;" No1 Har,h Unjust or ljnrcasonabk - Applirntion Ro.:j,xtc<l - Co,h Sout,?ht b) Rc,p,,ndcnt >.:,, Costs Aw,.rdcd. Dl:CISIO!'\ Application, h:1w been made l'>) th� Tran,pon Workers· l!nio11 of At1,1r:,lia. Union ,,r Lmplnvcc, (()llC�lhland BrandH ITWU1 for lht' rcin,tuli:mcnt a, hu:,. <lnv(:n, of .M� Am11.! Dunn �11H.l i\-1\'.°!',,..,I"!-- John \1/iBi<1m -- 1 of 3 -- 160 D COVFR:\:VlE'\T il'\Dl STRL\L G1\/ETTL lL'rlllllu!!{Jll It ! '� ! )/ 11<.._·;-.1.. (•rk ·, 5 June, l 99� ---H,1 lo 2.1 �\'la) 19(J� ,11 ;d �1..:c'--'Pted ca,ua: h:t"-l'd ha \c h..:t:n . ,. llh �llk·gation\ .1; 1pi1canh. Ol Uk i\\l !\lo of thc,c of the uniur: and the cban:::-:d tot2ether \\Ith Ii hndlatcr. 11, H'ork11lci, 1 more to \\(irk rncmh..::r-. h1r <llll) the and had \1uch ,,t l!hl rrnll-- \\C-1\· ctlld f(ir the ,.ll ,·JLh hdd hl'.Cll 1(, \\hcthd the:, 1,\ci-..: 1!J1._' ]1Jllh1i ihc !1,:ci. ir' J1l) \\kd�l.'lj 1 ,pen h> !lh.' The 11cd to th-' , •1 ...:lo--.cd. lr: ._-cl out the' !L,mccrcd t11 , h1._· door tic r 5 June. I :NSLAT\D COVER'\Ji\1ENT INDL'STRIAL GAZETTE 161 ____,_____ , c]o--.td \\llL'fl tik' . ,, )11 !llii()\lll. f ht: ck,ur \',,I'-. rcp,1i[\._'d ell 1!11..' '-·011'-.:\U...,lOn ,if die run \,1uw: l\\1• !1:1111 '" ,\II ol mcinhcr-..h11• rclati,111--.!111� icrminatiim. ,:ompan) \..·111pl1 i-_ '-> \ \\Ork \\a:-. r\..'dlic-�'J t n,-:mhcr-, ('ll \irollnll'f!1 \\hen 1_1nl:, J \bna,'._..'.cr ·" crnp!1 i; l'L" \\prf.Jon.\._ ' ! ,tlh1,::1k ;; ,,f l'rnplo;,:'-'" It \c--:t'.'.'1; 1,J,._•\·dr:t!\ lii1rl'cl',j)]),J[1l1 hrin'.; int(, Pk'rnh'-'r,[;:,, 11r�.t11i-<H 11 ,n ,·t•lh,'!lt. ,lu, '.\L1t!1;_'r'.], :hl· ,lpplk; ll·;i, Aihc c\ \\\lllld hl\', lnr �tn 1ri, \\l'\�ht ...·d. ah,ut ![111,,�· in1}1nrf'.!l1(. ( l' r,._•:t! !\\l'- '" c(l]11J11] -.. ,){)j', .rnd P1..'r llfl(:(' 1h1 �-.,, dcmr,n,t;_11t ,l \\hi,._·h 1!-.�, Ii Jlld1.ti,,·1....·'- -tl1d 1111 thcu "L'k:cti11n !ur �rll" s.'.\'!i.l.:'.!li.,,\.' ha\L' tdkcn 1nto {_h_'(()Ullt !kit lhc '.llll' i;JLt_'h<.lnll \ij rnallllcllll t!'ll:'. nccL ·1 llh tuli-ti111L' af(lT i'l,_·ct '-l/l' \\ eh rcdU·�·L'd . 1!-11....' n:laWJJhlllp !1-..'l\\c'L'11 U!lH!ll !1!Llllt1lT..., and IHJ!l --,,wl tu h,l\ 1._' h�'l_'n :i tupp; \\Or" :1nd �i !;___,'\, r1111 11,1(! '.U!T;cd 111dna�Lrnc1H ,.nd l'lllphi;cc' c1: di, 1,_;;:irlici t1111c' 1i:dul,::'.c1..l It \\J', 1;n!_\ v,lH... i1 r1,_·'.:ttldil'-h1p-, dl'k'ril1rall..\l lh;it 1i1v _ l_ppli,.;�iilh \\J!hdtC\\ c:11 \rn--,,111:-.ilc1...:t-ir; \,,Jrk rhc' hr.,'[\\L'U1 rh\..' lhL' p�1rti ...·-.. had hl·1..'!1 i11 Thi-- ;tdd:.'l'. ,,, t'.lc' fr!d1l!C \'.\', t,, l1t�lil; n:I,! h.: th,: Sel'li\1;1 22() Jct!" v,,, ith thu.,c j--,-.,uc-., v,hich lhc c:ommi:-.\ion mLht .._·1m,itkr \\ !wn dctc-r11n1:rn� 1,1,, hethcr a di...,rni\-.,a! i:-. har:-:.h. unju1.,t rn tllirL'd"-1111,:hlc. 1a1 \\/1c·th1..'r the cmpl\1;cc \\�h nu1ificd oi'thc rca-..,on for Ji:-.mi...,_-.,;d: ,rnd • h 1 \\!hither the di:-.mi-,...,al n.:Litcd tu 111 the Ppcrational rc·quirc!11l'lll'- \J! tile cmplo)cr·--, undcrtah.ing. e1.,tahl11.,hrnent ur --,en 1cc: or ( 11 i the -.::rnplli;cl•·-., condud. Ccipacit� or performance: <.llld :u if ltK' di,mi1..,1.,;:tl relate"' to lfk' Lt11plo)L'c·..., conduct. ctrMut; or J)L'rl ( m11ancc- ( 1J \\hcthcr the employee had hccn \\ai ncd ahuul the conduct. capaut; or p,_·rh1rrnancc: UJ : n 1 \\hctl11....T the L'mp!o) cc \\a, �11 en ;rn opporturnt; to r1.."·-,pond t() the :diq:a\l\in :thmt ilK· l·rn�duu. c:tp�ll'!l; Pr performance:: and \dJ �Ill\ Pthcr matk'r..., the cumrni-.,1.,ion 1....·on1.,idcr1., r1._·k\a11t. f'rll' L\\l'ncc uf tht.: applic:tnh· ar�urncnt \\a\ that it \\a-, nut upcn hi the rc",p(111Lk'nl [() 1-..:!; -.irn.pl; on "dpcrnt1unal n'(JU!rl'llll'.111\.. ,1, rck'lTl'd to 111 ,. .:::211 10 -:-..,1ahli-..,h tliat ;,1 tcrrnination wa-., not har1.,h, unju\l or Ulll\-'a�unahk. \\ lllk t!1:tt :11a; pro \'Jlk the umbrella for the tcnnmalion the particular rca....,on and pion:-..,--, {)f 1.,ckct1011 !or tc-rmmation of each indi\idual tu he tcrmin.itcd rnu:--t he cun,idcred t() determine if ead1 indi\·idua! ha\ hl'l'll dealt ½ Jt!i har ....hl; un]u\tl; or unrea�on�thly- ! lll' r,.. ,,pond'--'nl argu-..id that !he u1rn1rn-..,-.,iu11 lllll'-1 find that the n..'a',1ll1 for tcn�1in:llion \\,h h;: ...cd im npcratmnal rcquirl'l11c'l1t'>. that there wcrl' nu 1Hhcr gr11irnd" tu tenrnnalc' thi..' :ipplil:anl\ (�t:1d nthLT,) <1nd that their cmplo) rllL'!lt \\(ltild nut h:t \ 1.: hL'L'll ki m111atc·d had there hl'Cll no change tu the c:rnllrad I \\a-.., rdL'tTcd to K!'nc/u 1-,_ 1 .-\11\!r11liw1 .\11hnwri11c c·(npurotton JJ1, l.11 I \ o_:: i ll;l)(,! (i) !!<. 3(/). A..nI U!I(/ .-\11or/1cr \' Joronw flry trd tlu Frt'(i\/lr\ .\11 )!/!r J,od :; c i l l)()h) 7{) IR ---4-f-iY and Co,(() Holding\ Pry r,d \' /Jo (Ii!(/ ()rhcn \ JlJl)/J !){! AIJ{ l27 by hoth the applicant and rc-.,pundcnt in th:� matter i·hL' rc:1._,, anl tach Jll\olh:d Ill 1h1" matter an-· • ,\ \,1)1d op1..'1;1t1rnul n.:quilL'l1h.'tll c\i,k·d v.hJL'h n.:cc-.,...,1tatcd !h,._' 1cd1:'--·t1(1 n 111 l''.nphiy 111l'!l1 \)( ;i nwuhc·r of dri \ L'r'> • ,()(J!1 d"· ,1d1._·,1hk d1"'-'li""1un..., \\L'IC hL·ld \'- 1th ;1 rL·prL''-L'!1lati\l' tlK U'.l!llf� !(, i!l!(lr!11 liilll th,11 '.! di�rn�c \\'.t, ahtlllt lU ()CCLII rhc ()i th.: clid:l_'-'L' \\�!" 11qt k.nu,\r:: at llh· t1rnt_· !1irnK'd1,tt,.:l: pri1ir f() lhL' Llian�c hL1n_:; determined crnplo;ce� \\CTL' 1l1\iJJ"!1lL'd th:l1 ,! L·ii'.!!\2l' \\,ls, ,1hrn1! [() ()l_\..:l:i" \l,hkh \\(Hild arkl_'l the '-·rnplu;1nc11t �1r ;i rn1r:1hcr (i!' dh.'m in diffcrcn! \1,a;1., ar:d tha! \\hen 1!11....· ch,rngi..' \\;h kn,1\\ll the; \\(Hild h,�· ind1, iduall; informed rn \\ r !!111i_' (d th(: d-J',:,._·t I in dwir ,,.,rnpl(•� !l1l'!ll S, 1Jlll' ad \ J\..-...: \\ a-., .�l \ en 1( 1 ,(1me cE1plo; CC\ ;i-., lo 1.,omc rnattcT" \\hi-- h \l.-\lU!d h1...· !t1kL'!l 1nl(1 CPil'-llkrctlio:1 111 �1-.,-..,c<..1.,i11μ. futur'--' c'!!lj'll\l� illl'ill \\ Jlh thL' 1.'ilnlj1<lf1> ! ilL' BLtnc'll \Lriu�l'! (\l!hhkr,:d ,1 r:ll1�L' or ls,-,ll(''-, llll:\udin� h,ll\,'s, ..,�1d1 1..'(1!1:11l�i'.nh j)L.' \ :mi":�, made h; lllL' puh!i.__ ahuut i;1di\idu;il dri\L'h \\hk'h \\ '---'t\..' di,1_'11'-'-Cd \\ !lh 1hcm c1t tllL' tiinc and r,._''-.()l \cd. :1hi!it:, ;�, l!ri\lT' 10 rn;uniain ti!lil'Lthk'-.,. a(l.'idcnt1.., and a1.-ai!ahil1t) \\l11!-., \\fi---·n r._'ql1c·...,kd I1 i..... urh.:lc,tr \\h,11 otlllT j1.,-.,u....:-, ma; liit \l' t,,._,:....·n L, 11hilkrL't.J l h' \L!l<i�lT ll',c'd !ii--, k.11,,\\kd��L' 11! c1nd \\(llkin� ,._'\[K'JicllL'l' \\ith ,ill dr1\t._T-., t(1 dl'lLT111111c l !hhl' \\hi�Il h..' Lt111-..,tdcrcd !lHhl --uitahk l\1 hL' rl..'l:1incd in 1...'rnp!i\\llll'rlt and kid grL'al diffiu1lt) 111 dL'knnHnn_:2 \\hid1 ilr1 \c·r, ...,JH)uld [K' lL'rlllll1dk�l a� al! \\1..'tC lll�hl) rq_i:�uLkd. ()n 1llv C\Hkl1L'l', ;1]] c·rnpl(l)L'L'" \\lHhl' crnplo�,llll'ilt \\a� tcnninatcd \\ere >,:kdcd tlin 1u:2h tilL' ·<llllc' proc·l,..., ..., LhL'd frn s..,l'k1.:tirn1 ;1!' the appi!L'�mt" ,1� :t:...'cllll'--.l ,;thL·!" al,\i kri11111dtcd rn uth1....•r1., kldilll'd. dpplk._\!ll" li,1d 1��111 "'-'riou--. pc1""'--'n,:;c'' ,:or:1pLi:nh 111a,.k ,ind ll 1l1t.· t11nl' <1rn.i 111k' 111\:tri,;\1!: \\a'- tl('t ,l\,1ilabk t11 \\Prh. :m; r·111....' (ltll1--r \\,t" in tiw ...,,rnk' cak,�(Ji":, c1, \·:hc1 lirI\LT'- \\l1;_1 \\CL..' t11 ,:J-.u,tl l':11pil1: itl\.'ill L 111.t \ ,' t,.___,l·11 !1L·lp!ul 111 ckkrminin� thh rn:llk'r ,h l\1 \\hdhl'l lhc d1,111i'--.,:tl, iur-.,h, w;jil\l .!11(1..':J',(lllclhk ll) dr:J\\ ,..:n:1!r;!rl'>(l!h af.2-dll1',t tb, n .'L Ui\l-.. (,l Jr1\,:h rl'1ai;11.,'d 111 l'!llplu:1111....'nt f·n,m the itkl1l'\..'. the 2h7119 U)OC -- 2 of 3 -- 162 QUEENSLAND GOVERNMENT INDUSTRIAL GAZETTE outrnme of such a wmparison would prohahl y have revealed llrnt 1/10,e retained had little or no negative c,immentary. It i, open from the evidence. 10 take that l' iew hccau,c very few w�rnings haw c,·cr ocen pla1:cd on driver, personnel record, in relation l() conduct. capacity or pcrformam:e. However. thi, cou r,c. while opened, was not pur>ued. There i, no question that the reduction in drivers. hoth as to pcnnancm, and casullh. was necessary. If the applicants succeed in thi, application. four other dri\ers will need to he terminated. The onus is upon the applicant$ to prove that the tcrmina1ion, \\ere harsh. unjust or unrea,onablc. The only is,u<e uron which reliance rnigh1 he pla,ed to support this argument i, that the resrondcnt did not wnsu h 1hrcc of 1he applicants as to 1he i:,.,uc, ,ncmioned ab,wc prior 10 {he di,rni,s,1I. There is some evidence 1.hat the respondent made --some n1t'ntion in pa,,ing" ahou 1 the is.,uc,. I do nm iake 1hat 10 he providing the applicunt, wirh an opportunity to rc,pond in a con,ullation process. However. the abs.:nce of lhat oppor111nity is not fatal lo the rcsrxmdent's po,i1.ion. (See McKei,�ie 1· S.,mec 1'1y I.Id 1/a l'iw: Rfren l,<,aming a11d Oe,·elopme111 Cenrre ( 1997) I :56 QGIG 566. N11ge111 ,. Aromm r 1997 J 154 QGIG 7 1 1 and Law ,, Fa/mm Products f>1_1· t,11/ ( 1997; 155 QGIG 1 1 80). The drcumsrnncc, in 1hi.s matter arc fair l y siraight l,irward. The respondent had to choo� among e411als a� to who should he lcrminatcd. Consultation and nrportuni1y to defend would not have altered t.he d.;cisinn. The granting of an order ()f r�instatcmcm as sought wou ld 0<)1 alter 1hc order of ,hoicc when the immediate 1kcision would he made as to which four ('mployec.s should next he terminalt'd. I reject the applica1ion for onfor, as sought. Th.c respondent has M)ughl 1hat <:o�t� he a\var<lt!<L Costs in reinstatement maners may only be awan.k<..I in accordan,c with the pru,i�ion, of ,. 225. The applic:uion� arc not fri volous or vexalious Pr without rcaSi.mahk· 1..·at1:-i.L". The employment rcla1ionships cxistin!,! in the workplace as a rcsull !If the respondenr's intervcmion in th� union memhership i��uc t.·ould rc�tStmably have caused a perception in the appl icant,· mind, that an inapproprim.: proc�ss wa, used to select empl oyee, for terminal ion. This ha, ,,r cour,� nol hecn proven. The applkant, ha,.: rnll rnnductcd the applkation in ,111 unrcasonat-tlc fa:-.hjon :-.o as to cause the rl':,,J)l.lll<.km unnl."cc-..:-.a.i-y 1.:o�l:-,. The upplicatinn for c,>sts b refused. Appearcmces:- M, I)_ Whyte, of lhc Tran,pon W,,rker,· Union ,,f Au.,1ralia. Union of Employees /Qucen,lantl Br,rnclll. fnr thc Applic-mls. IV.ls K. Privr. ofPrior & Ass()(: iatc,. for the Rc,pondcnl. Rcka,ed: 27 May 191.JX ##########################IHl####/r######################### 5 June, 1998 5 June, 1998 QUEENSLAND GOVERNMENT INDUSTRIAL GAZETTE 163 -- 3 of 3 --