Bede Clare and Botany Bay City Council [2004] NSWIRComm 339

Industrial Relations Commission of New South Wales

CITATION : Bede Clare and Botany Bay City Council [2004] NSWIRComm 339 APPLICANT: PARTIES : Mr Bede Clare RESPONDENT: Botany Bay City Council FILE NUMBER: 5237 of 2003 CORAM: Sams DP Termination of employment - unfair dismissal - whether dismissal harsh, unreasonable or unjust - Council labourer with lengthy service - long history of poor performance - excessive absenteeism - unauthorised absences - abusive phone calls - failure to follow directions - leaving work early - demotion and probation - representation of Union - alcohol addiction - nine disciplinary matters - conflict of evidence - breach of Award - working hours. CATCHWORDS : Held, applicant's history of poor performance - applicant's evidence not credible - respondent's evidence preferred - failure to acknowledge any problems - lack of contrition - side issues - no breach of Award or agreement - allegations sustained - past performance assessments considered - long service of applicant considered - personal and family circumstances taken into account - difficulty in obtaining alternative employment due to age and history of employment - no issues of procedural unfairness - applicant at all times represented by Union - dismissal not harsh, unreasonable or unjust - application for relief dismissed. LEGISLATION CITED : Industrial Relations Act 1996 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 Buckman v Burdekin (1998) 85 IR 415 Burke v McGirr (1995) 87 IR 54 Byrne & Anor v Australian Airlines Limited (1995) 185 CLR 410 D & R Commercial Pty Ltd v Flood (2002) 113 IR 344 CASES CITED : Humphries v Cootamundra Ex-Services and Citizens Memorial Club Limited [2003] NSWIRComm 211 Johnson v Catholic Education Office, Diocese of Parramatta (1998) 87 IR 57 New South Wales Local Government, Clerical, Administrative, Energy, Airlines and Utilities Union (on behalf of Gary Patrick Mealey) and the Council of the City of Sydney [2004] NSWIRComm 306 Oswald v NSW Police Service (1999) 90 IR 42 Outboard World v Muir (1993) 51 IR 167 Robert Lawrence and Attorney General's Department [2004] NSWIRComm 59 Williams and Pigment Dispersions Pty Ltd [2004] NSWIRComm 268 Wilson v Department of Education and Training (2000) 100 IR 1 HEARING DATES: 07/08/2004; 07/09/2004; 08/02/2004 DATE OF JUDGMENT: 11/10/2004