AWU (David Eakin) v G.J. James Extrusion Pty Ltd [2006] NSWIRComm 1042

Industrial Relations Commission of New South Wales

CITATION: AWU (David Eakin) v G.J. James Extrusion Pty Ltd [2006] NSWIRComm 1042

PARTIES: Australian Workers Union, New South Wales (on behalf of David Eakin) and G.J. James Extrusion Company Pty Ltd.

FILE NUMBER(S): 6011 of 2004

CORAM: Bishop C

Termination of employment - summary dismissal - production supervisor - lengthy experience - no work issues - allegations of theft of company product - limited video surveillance available - police investigation - Local Court proceedings - charges dismissed - substantive and procedural issues raised - compensation sought CATCHWORDS: Held; applicant's evidence preferred - conflicting evidence - gaps in evidence - onus to establish misconduct not made out on evidence - procedural unfairness - monetary compensation appropriate - orders made

LEGISLATION CITED: Industrial Relations Act 1996

Andrew Curro v Bell Sports Australia Pty Ltd [1999] NSWIRComm 281 (7 May 1999) Antonakopolous v State Bank (1999) 91 IR 385 Australian Workers' Union, NSW Branch v Colgate Palmolive Pty Ltd (1988) 27 IR 421 Bankstown City Council v Paris (unreported) IRC262 of 1999 Bigg & Anor v New South Wales Police Service (1998) 80 IR 434 Bi-Lo v Hooper (1992) 53 IR 225 Briginshaw v Briginshaw (1938) 60 CLR 336 Brown v Dunn (1894) 6 R(H2) 67 Burke v McGirr (1998) 87 IR 54 Busways v Johnson (1994) 55 IR 255 Byrne & Anor v Australian Airlines (1995) 61 IR 32 D&R Commercial Pty Ltd v Flood (2002) 113 IR 344 Franklins Ltd v Webb (1996) 72 IR 257 Hill v Department of Juvenile Justice [2000] NSWIRComm 128 CASES CITED: Humphries v Cootamundra Ex-Services and Citizens Memorial Club Limited [2003] NSWIRComm 211 Jones v Dunkell (1959) 101 CLR 298 New South Wales Fire Brigade Employees' Union (on behalf of Natoli) v New South Wales Fire Brigades NSWIRComm 440 Outboard World v Muir (1993) 51 IR 167 Parker v Capitol Painters & Decorators Pty Ltd (1996) 68 IR 100 Pastrycooks Employees, Biscuit Makers Employees & Flour and Sugar Goods Workers Union (NSW) v Gartrell White (No 3) (1990) 35 IR 70 Paul Robert Taggart v Bell Sports Australia Pty Ltd [1999] NSWIRComm 408 (10 September 1999) Perkins v Grace Worldwide (Aust) Pty Ltd (1997) 72 IR 186 Rapp v Wauchope RSL Club (1998) 81 IR 116 Sams v Contact Point International Pty Ltd (2001) NSWIRComm 18 Shop Distributive & Allied Employees' Association NSW Branch v Jewel Food Stores (1987) 22 IR 1 Tamworth City Council v Federated Municipal Employees Union of Australia, New South Wales Division (1991) 39 IR 73 Wang v Crestell Industries Pty Ltd (1997) 73 IR 454 Western Suburbs District Ambulance Committee v Tipping (1957) AR NSW 273 William John Kohlenhagen v Cargill Foods Australia [1999] NSWIRComm 107 (23 March 1999)