CONTENTIONS
15 The application contends that each of the members were victimised within their employment as a consequence of them joining the CFMEU and seeking payment from the respondent in accordance with the award. The CFMEU contends that the form of victimisation was dismissal from their employment.
16 The respondent contends that each of the applicants were discharged from employment as a result of a downturn in the respondent's business operations and were paid redundancy entitlements in accordance with the Building and Construction Industry (State) Award 327 IG 279.
THE EVIDENCE
17 Mr Auchter and Mr Richardson were employed by the respondent on the construction of the Mount Arthur North coal mine pursuant to the Mount Arthur North Consent Award 2001 ('the Award') 336 IG 690.
18 The evidence of Mr Richardson is given by statement (exhibit 4) and orally.
19 Mr Richardson deposed that he was employed by the respondent as a scaffolder from 20 February 2002. His evidence is that he was inducted to work on the Mt Arthur North site ("the site") in March 2002 and on that occasion first saw a copy of the Award and was informed at the induction that all employees on site should be paid in accordance therewith. Mr Richardson deposed that he was paid the amount of $25 per hour for each hour worked with no reference to the Award and that there was no payment of superannuation entitlements to the Australian Construction Industry Redundancy Trust (ACIRT).
20 Mr Richardson further deposed that excess fares and travel were not paid in accordance with the Award, rostered days off (RDO's) were not accrued, meal allowances were not paid, and work in excess of 38 hours per week was paid without calculation of overtime penalty.
21 Mr Richardson deposed that shortly after his commencement on site in March 2002 he joined the Australian Workers' Union, New South Wales (AWU) and provided a payroll deduction authority to the respondent for the payment of union membership fees. Mr Richardson's evidence is that a short time thereafter Mr R Sanson, then State Manager for the respondent, attended the site and held a meeting of all employees of the respondent. Mr Richardson deposed that Mr Sanson was angered that employees had joined a union and during the course of a heated exchange in which Mr Sanson was reminded that he had no right to question whether individuals joined a union, stated: "I am the boss, I can do what I like"; and, "O.K. then, I am looking at paying the site fee rather than letting you join the union"; and, "We're looking at walking away from this job anyway because all this is such a hassle".
22 Mr Richardson deposed that apart from joining the union he had not raised any issues with the union, nor sought representation, though had referred his concerns in respect to payment in accordance with the Award to the site supervisor, Mr Daniel Grieve.
23 Mr Richardson's evidence is that he continued to work at the site in March and April 2002 then was deployed to other sites in the Hunter Valley for brief periods prior to returning to Mt Arthur North in July 2002 to work on a contract secured by the respondent with H&M Manufacturing Pty Ltd (H&M) on that project.
24 Mr Richardson deposed that the issue of appropriate payment in accordance with the Award was again raised by the H&M union delegate and by him with Mr Grieve.
25 Mr Richardson deposed that on the H&M job he joined the CFMEU and informed the local organiser, Mr Lawler, and Mr Harris of the differences between the Award and the payment received. Mr Richardson deposed that he was informed that Mr Harris pursued the issue on his behalf with Sinclair Knight Merz (SKM), the principle contractor.
26 Mr Richardson's evidence is that subsequently he was approached by Mr Fletcher and Mr Grieve who first asserted that he had been overpaid an amount of $3,000 in the previous six months and requested he sign a document attesting that he was content with his entitlements and was being paid correctly. Mr Richardson refused and asked if he could take a copy of the document with him. This request was refused. At para 26 of exhibit 4 Mr Richardson deposed:
" Daniel said "No, it's got to be signed by 10am tomorrow". Fletcher said, "Do you realize that this could be the end of Ace Scaffolding in the Hunter". I said, "That's not my problem, I didn't cause this. He looked at me and said, "Don't you want your job, then?"
27 Mr Richardson's evidence is that he understood that SKM were withholding progress payments to the respondent until satisfied that the respondent was paying in accordance with the Award and understood the respondent was asking him to sign a false declaration to be provided to SKM.
28 Mr Richardson deposed that he was not required to work at the site shortly after this incident. Mr Richardson deposed that he returned to the site a short time later and was interviewed by Mr Mills and Mr Punter, officers of SKM, concerning the application of the Award. Mr Richardson's evidence is that he informed them of the payment arrangements which were inconsistent with the Award requirements and was informed that they would investigate the matter. Mr Richardson deposed that he continued to work at the site until January 2003 and that subsequent to a further meeting convened by the Labor Council of New South Wales ACIRT and meal allowances were "back paid".
29 Mr Richardson deposed that a further meeting was held towards the end of January 2003 at the respondent's Tomago office. Mr Richardson's evidence is that that meeting failed to take place as a result of the refusal by Mr Zeitsch to accept the representation of the CFMEU on behalf of the employees concerned. A further meeting was convened a week later, the respondent again refusing to admit an official of the CFMEU. As a result of some discussion between Mr Richardson and Mr Zeitsch a further meeting was scheduled a few days later in which the issues of contention were examined. Agreement was achieved to the payment of holiday loading, however, claims in respect to travel allowances, meal allowances, application of 38 hour week and accrual of RDO's was refused. Mr Richardson's evidence is that there was a further meeting a week later which Mr Sanson attended, which he deposed repeated much of the previous meeting without further resolution. Mr Richardson's evidence at para 44 of exhibit 4 is in the following terms:
" On more than one occasion, Zeitsch said words to the effect, "let's try and sort out this pay stuff between ourselves without the Union or without it going to Court. If it has to go to Court I can tell you that the result won't be what you blokes want".
30 Mr Richardson deposed that subsequent to this meeting there was little work available at the site and enquiries were made as to the availability of work from the Newcastle branch of the respondent, which was understood to have plenty of work. Mr Richardson's evidence is that he was informed that they were not required by the Newcastle branch which had contractors meeting its requirements.
31 Mr Richardson deposed that he had a telephone discussion with Mr Zeitsch during the course of that week and was informed that he may have to look at taking holidays.
32 Mr Richardson's evidence is that there were further meetings with Mr Zeitsch in which he raised the matter of sub-contractors. Mr Richardson deposed that he was informed by Mr Zeitsch that the contractors were in regular engagement by the respondent and then his attention was directed to an advertisement by the respondent seeking expressions of interest from persons to become contractors to the respondent in a range of classifications.
33 Further meetings took place between the employees, the respondent and independently between the employees and the CFMEU which on the evidence of Mr Richardson were unproductive in regard to resolution of entitlements with the respondent, resulting in a decision by him and other employees to refuse further discussion and have the CFMEU pursue the matter on their behalf .
34 Mr Richardson gives the following evidence at paras 53, 54 and 55 of exhibit 4 of conversations with Mr Sanson which led him to the conclusion that as a consequence of his activities in seeking recovery of wages, application of the Award and involvement of the union, he was regarded adversely by the respondent and his employment would be terminated accordingly.
53. When I first joined the CFMEU I rang a few other branches of Ace Scaffolding to see if any other blokes were interested in signing up. This fact came to Ricky Sanson's attention. At a conversation I had with Sanson in relation to a safety breach at Mt Arthur, I recall that he said to me words to the effect, "You are responsible for all this Union trouble". It is my belief that the Company has held vocal Union members and me responsible for its industrial and commercial problems in the recent past in the Hunter region.