EPMU Wins Tiwai Point Leave Case

Workers at the Tiwai Point smelter are owed back pay from their employer for annual leave they were legally entitled to but never received, the Employment Relations Authority has ruled.

The case was taken by the workers’ union, the EPMU, and centred on management’s decision to interpret a day’s leave in lieu of a public holiday as meaning eight hours’ leave, despite the fact employees worked standard twelve hour shifts.

The Authority rejected the company’s argument and ruled the workers were legally entitled to twelve hours’ leave in lieu of a public holiday under their employment agreements.

EPMU director of organising Alan Clarence says the decision is great news for workers at Tiwai Point.

“The Authority’s decision means workers will finally receive the full legal entitlements set out in their employment agreements.

“Workers had raised this issue with the company repeatedly over the last two decades, but they were ignored until they collectively joined the union and were able to take a case.

“This is a great example of collective action getting results.”

A copy of the Authority’s decision can be found at: http://www.epmu.org.nz/assets/Legal/lieu-day-decision.pdf

ENDS

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