Najdov and Macedonian Australian Welfare Association of Sydney Inc [2004] NSWIRComm 101

Industrial Relations Commission of New South Wales

CITATION : Najdov and Macedonian Australian Welfare Association of Sydney Inc [2004] NSWIRComm 101 APPLICANT: PARTIES : Toni Najdov RESPONDENT: Macedonian Australian Welfare Association of Sydney Inc FILE NUMBER: 7115 of 2002 CORAM: Sams DP Termination of employment - unfair dismissal - community welfare worker - allegations of misconduct - allegations of poor work performance - credit of witnesses - procedural fairness - employment contract - unrepresented parties - whether dismissal harsh, unreasonable or unjust - principles considered - compensation sought - conduct of proceedings. CATCHWORDS : Held, much of the evidence irrelevent and repetitive - applicant a witness of credit - respondent's evidence unhelpful - similarity of evidence - argumentative and aggressive representative - ex post facto allegations of poor work performance - issues of poor work performance not proven - one written warning twelve months earlier - no breach of confidentiality - allegations of disloyalty and aggressive behaviour not proven - allegation of interference in investigation not proven - allegation of intimidation not proven - failure of respondent to properly investigate allegations - bias of decision makers - vagueness of allegations - insufficient time to respond - postponement of disciplinary meeting not unreasonable - failure to apply earlier procedures - applicant not given specific reason for dismissal - applicant's explanation not considered - dismissal procedurally and substantively unfair - reinstatement impractical - compensation ordered - costs reserved. LEGISLATION CITED : Industrial Relations Act 1996 Anti-Discrimination Act 1977 Abboud v The State of New South Wales (Department of School Education) (1999) 92 IR 32 Antonakopoulos v State Bank of New South Wales (1999) 91 IR 385 Bankstown City Council v Paris (1999) 93 IR 209 Bigg & Anor v NSW Police Service (1998) 80 IR 434 Blyth Chemicals Limited v Bushnell (1933) 49 CLR 66 Buckman v Burdekin (1998) 85 IR 415 Burke v McGirr (1995) 87 IR 54 Busways v Johnson (1994) 55 IR 255 Byrne and Anor v Australian Airlines (1995) 61 IR 32 Concut Pty Ltd v Worrell and Anor (2000) 103 IR 160 D & R Commercial Pty Ltd v Flood (2002) 113 IR 344 Day v Lumley Life Limited (1999) 90 IR 70 Electricity Commission of New South Wales t/as Pacific Power v Crump (1993) 48 IR 296 Federated Municipal and Shire Council Employees' Union of Australia, New South Wales Division, on behalf of Gregory Bowman and City of Sydney Council [2001] NSWIRComm 91 Foster v Woolworths [2000] NSWIRComm 208 CASES CITED : Franklins Ltd v Webb (1996) 72 IR 257 Humphries and Cootamundra Ex-Services and Citizens Memorial Club Limited [2003] NSWIRComm 211 Little v Commissioner of Police (No.2) (2002) 112 IR 212 Pastrycooks Employees, Biscuit Maker Employees & Flour and Sugar Goods Workers Union (NSW) v Gartrell White (No 3) (1990) 35 IR 70 Hill v Department of Juvenile Justice [2000] NSWIRComm 128 Hunt v Hornsby Shire Council [2001] NSWIRComm 242 John Lysaght (Australia) Limited and Federated Ironworkers' Association of Australia, New South Wales Division & Ors (1972) AILR 517 Johnson v Catholic Education Office, Diocese of Parramatta (1998) 87 IR 57 Laws v London Chronicle (Indicator Newspapers) Ltd [1959] 2 All ER 285 North v Television Corporation Ltd (1976) 11 ALR 599 Oswald v NSW Police Service (1999) 90 IR 42 Outboard World v Muir (1993) 51 IR 167 Police Association of New South Wales on behalf of Adam Tregonning, and New South Wales Police Service [2000] NSWIRComm 14 Price v Box Valley Pty Ltd (1999) 90 IR 480 Shop, Distributive & Allied Employees' Association v Jewel Food Stores (1987) 22 IR 1 Staal and Tupene and Health and Research Employees' Association of New South Wales (on behalf of Nagy and Others) and Western Sydney Area Health Service [2004] NSWIRComm 27 HEARING DATES: 11/06/2003; 11/10/2004; 11/11/2003; 11/12/2003; 11/13/2003 DATE OF JUDGMENT: 04/22/2004