Australasian Meat Industry Employees Union v Australia Meat Holdings Pty Ltd [1999] FCA 292

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Australasian Meat Industry Employees Union v Australia Meat Holdings Pty Ltd [1999] FCA 292 INDUSTRIAL LAW – awards - interpretation of award clause "interruptions of work due to any other cause on any day or shift" – where "interruption" alleged to be delay caused by 'pins' designed to hold animal carcasses in an abattoir being left empty and causing abattoir "piecework boner" employees to be briefly idle – where compliance with Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service and AUS-MEAT hygiene, quality control and export licensing standards the reason for 'pins' being left empty Australian Meat Industry Employees Union, Newcastle & Northern Branch v Australia Meat Holdings Pty Ltd, (Industrial Relations Commission of New South Wales, unreported, 19 October 1994) not followed Australia Meat Holdings - Stuart (Townsville) - Interim Award 1995 - cl 69(e) AUSTRALASIAN MEAT INDUSTRY EMPLOYEES UNION v AUSTRALIA MEAT HOLDINGS PTY LTD (ACN 011 062 338) Q 74 OF 1999 SPENDER J 25 MARCH 1999 BRISBANE

IN THE FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

QUEENSLAND DISTRICT REGISTRY QG 74 OF 1999

BETWEEN: AUSTRALASIAN MEAT INDUSTRY EMPLOYEES UNION

First Applicant

RAYMOND JOHN MURPHY

Second Applicant

AND: AUSTRALIA MEAT HOLDINGS PTY LTD (ACN 011 062 338)

Respondent

JUDGE: SPENDER J

DATE OF ORDER: 25 MARCH 1999

WHERE MADE: BRISBANE

THE COURT DECLARES THAT: On a proper interpretation of cl 69(e) of the Australia Meat Holdings - Stuart (Townsville) - Interim Award 1995, the phrase "interruptions of work due to any other cause on any day or shift" does not include the period during which "missing pins" pass a boner's station, the "missing pins" being due to a change in the category of animal carcass being boned.