New South Wales Local Government, Clerical, Administrative, Energy, Airlines & Utilities Union (on behalf of O'Hara and Griffith City Council [2006] NSWIRComm 1102

Industrial Relations Commission of New South Wales

CITATION: New South Wales Local Government, Clerical, Administrative, Energy, Airlines & Utilities Union (on behalf of O'Hara and Griffith City Council [2006] NSWIRComm 1102

APPLICANT New South Wales Local Government, Clerical, Administrative, Energy, Airlines & Utilities Union (on behalf of Shane O'Hara) PARTIES:

RESPONDENT Griffith City Council

FILE NUMBER(S): 2917 of 2005

CORAM: Bishop C

Termination of employment - dismissal for misconduct of plumber - DUI conviction - loss of driver's licence 12 months - third conviction - 17 years service - previously kept on by council - on-call - issues of when and where alcohol consumed - council policies and practices relevant - conflicting police evidence - whether in all circumstances penalty too harsh - reinstatement sought - but with no retrospectivity. CATCHWORDS: Held termination too harsh in circumstances - issues with council's alcohol policy and on-call practices - no intent by applicant to drive whilst over limit - extenuating circumstances - reinstatement ordered with final warning - subject to regaining licence - period off work effectively a suspension - no backpay ordered - continuity of service - orders made.

LEGISLATION CITED: Industrial Relations Act 1996

Antonakopoulos v State Bank (1999) 91 IR 385 Bankstown City Council V Paris (1999) 93 IR 209 Byrne v Australian Airlines Ltd (1995) 185 CLR 410 Busways v Johnson (1994) 55 IR 255 Electricity Commission of New South Wales t/as Pacific Power v Crump (1993) 48 IR 296 Hollingsworth v Commission of Police (No2) (1999) 47 NSWLR 151 John Lysaght (Australia) Limited and Federated Ironworkers" Association of Australia, NSW Division & Ors (unreported, Sheppard J, Matter 259 of 1972, 14 September 1972) Lane v Arrowcrest Group (1990) 99 ALR 45 Little v Commissioner of Police (No 2) (2002) NSWIRComm 52 Lorenzato v Sydney Water Corporation (2002) NSWIRComm 277 Mastroianni v Telstra Corporation (2000) IRComm A 240 (9 March 2000) CASES CITED: NSW Sales Representatives & Commercial Travellers" Guild v Berge Paints (1984) 9 IR 273. New South Wales Fire Brigade Employees (on behalf of Natoli) v New South Wales Fire Brigade (2005) NSWIRComm 440 Pastrycooks, Biscuit Makers and Flour & Sugar Goods Workers Union (NSW) v Gartrell White (no3) 1990 35 IR 70 Outboard World v Muir (1993) 51 IR 167 Perkins v Grace Worldwide (Aust) Pty Ltd (1997) 72 IR 186 Rapp v Wauchope RSL Club Ltd 81 IR 116 Retail Traders Assn' (NSW) v Shop Distributive & Allied Empoyees Assn (NSW) (1990) 36 IR 38 Sams v Contact Point International Pty Ltd (2001) NSWIRComm 18 St Vincent's Hospital Sydney Ltd v Harris (1998) 81 IR 173 State of NSW v Seedsman (2000) 217 ALR 583 TWU o/b Ferguson v Linfox (2004) NSWIRComm 1116 Wells v Commissioner of Police (2000) 100 IR 106