Canberra Television Ltd v Australian Theatrical and Amusement Employees Association

[1979] FCA 52

Industrial law - interpretation of award - penalty payable to employee in respect of work performed on a clear day rostered off - shift in respect of which penalty is payable. Conciliation and Arbitra-cion Act 1904 s.110 Televisinn Industry Award 1977 clauses 7, 8 l0 and 11.

CANBERPA TELEVISION LTD. AND ORS. v. THE AUSTFWL1P.M THEATRICAL

ANJ3 MWSEMENT EMPLOYEES' ASSOCIATION

No. 29 of 1978

Coram: Eowen C.J., Smithers and Northrop JJ.

14 June 1979	.	.	. . S .	.
Sydney

L	> '
I

*-

l

<	IP : TI-E FZPERAL COURT OF AUSTRLJ,IA
NEif SOUTH "/ALES DXSTRICT FLF;C:ISTP.'I ' ) No. 29 of 1973
INDUSTRlAL DIVISIOB )

IF THZ Kd-TTER of the CO!~TCILIATIOU

AND ARB1TRJ:TIOS ACT 1'704

R E T V	!	E E ET:	CANREZFA TELEVTSIOT
LTD. A!T! 02s.

Appellants

O R D E R

JUDGES FM-KII'TG ORDEX':	Bowel? C . J . ,	Snl thers and Northrop JJ.
DATE OF ORDER:	14 June 1979

V!EERE NAD3: Sydney

T3E COURT OmERS THAT:

1 . The order appealed from be var ied zo read a s fol1oirs:-

That on t h e t r u e mesning and interpretation of t h e

Television Industry .4ward 197'7 :

NEW SOUTH P7ALES D I S T R I C T REGISTRY ) NO. 2 9 of 1 9 7 8

)

INDUSTRIAL D I V I S I O N 1

I N THE HATTEE3 of the C o n c i l i a t i o n

and A r b i t r a t i o n A c t ,	1 9 0 4	i
BETWEEN:

CANBERRA TELEVISION LTD.

AND ORS.

A p p e l l a n t s

AND:

THE AUSTRALIAN THEATRICAL & AB4USEMENT

EMPLOYEES' ASSOCIATION

R e s p o n d e n t

CORAY: B o w e n C. J.

S m i t h e r s J. N o r t h r o p J.

1 4 June 1 9 7 9

REASONS FOR JUDGMENT

BOV7EN C . J . T h i s 1s an appeal f r o m an order of a s i n g l e Judge

of the C o u r t . A p p l i c a t i o n w a s m a d e t o h i s H o n o u r by t h e

A u s t r a l i a n Theatrical and A m u s e m e n t E m p l o y e e s ' A s s o c i a t i o n , t he

R e s p o n d e n t on t h i s appeal, jo in ing C a n b e r r a Television L i m i t e d

and O t h e r s , t h e A p p e l l a n t s , s e e k i n g a n i n t e r p r e t a t i o n of the

T e l e v i s i o n I n d u s t r y A w a r d 1 9 7 7 .

T h e f a c t s and t h e t e r m s of the re levant clauses o i the

A w a r d are se t f o r t h i n t h e R e a s o n s f o r J u d ~ m e n t of S m i t h e r s J.

I n nly op in ion t h e A w a r d appl ies i n t h e f o l l o r i i n g way : -

1. T h e o r d i n a r y hours o f w o r k m u s t n o t exceed 4 0

hours p e r week o r 80 hours p e r f o r t n i g h t o r

120 hours i n t h r e e consecu t ive weeks, t o be

worked wherever reasonably p o s s i b l e i n s h i f t s of

8 hours p e r day and i n any e v e n t n o t exceeding

9 hours p e r day ( e x c l u s i v e o f meal pe r iods )

( c l . 7 ( a ) ) . There i s p r o v i s i o n d e a l i n g w i t h

an excep t ion b u i t h i s i s n o t r e l e v a n t f o r

p r e s e n t purposes ( c l . 7 (b ) ) .

2. A l l employees under t h e Award must be r o s t e r e d

f o r t h e i r o r d i n a r y hours o f work i n accordance

w i t h c l . 8. The Award i s c o n s t i t u t e d on t h e b a s i s

t h a t it w i l l be obeyed, t h a t i s t o say , t h a t such

a r o s t e r w i l l be p repa red , t h a t it w i l l comply

w i t h t h e requi rements o f c l . 8 and t h a t it w i l l

be pos ted a t t h e p l a c e and w i t h i n t h e t i m e

s p e c i f i e d .

3 . One p a r t i c u l a r requirement should be no t i ced . A l l

r o s t e r s must be such as t o a l low one c l e a r day o f f i n

each r o s t e r week and t o aggrega te s i x days o f f i n each

t h r e e week	c y c l e	(c l . 8 ( j ) ) .	Some	complicat ion	i s	I
i

i n t roduced by a p r o v i s i o n i n c l . 8 ( j ) t h a t c l e a r day

s h a l l i n c e r t a i n c i rcumstances mean on any day n o t

l e s s t h a n t h i r t y hours , and s h a l l i n o t h e r

c i rcumstances mean on any day n o t l e s s t han t h i r t y - s i x

hours and i n a l l c a s e s where two o r more days o f f a r e	I
given consecu t ive ly t h e second and subsequent days
i
I

s h a l l comprise twenty-four hours . !

4.	Clause	8 which	d e a l s w i th	r o s t e r s	and	c l a u s e 10 which	j
I
i

provides	f o r over t ime ,	countenance	some	f l e x i b i l i t y	I
I

i n	t h e	r o s t e r : -	i
1

(i) Where an employee r e c e i v e s seven c l e a r

days n o t i c e o r more of a change of r o s t e r

then	payment	i s made	a t o r d i n a r y	r a t e s
( c l .	8 ( b ) ) .

(ii) Where an employee r e c e i v e s l e s s than seven

days b u t more than twenty-four hours n o t i c e

o f a change o f r o s t e r , then pu r suan t t o

c l . 8 ( b ) payment i s made a t t h e r a t e

s p e c i f i e d i n c l . 10 (a) .

(iii) Where an employee r e c e i v e s l e s s t han twenty-

f o u r hours n o t i c e o f a change of r o s t e r which

r e q u i r e s t h a t employee t o work on a day Eor which he would o therwise have been r o s t e r e d

o f f ; he i s e n t i t l e d t o payment under c l . 1 0 ( c ) .

5. An employee who does n o t r e c e i v e a c l e a r day ( o r

c l e a r days) o f f a s provided by c l . 8 ( j ) must be p a i d

i n accordance w i t h c l . 1 0 ( f ) . C l . 1 0 ( f ) seems

a p p r o p r i a t e l y worded t o cover t h e c a s e where an

employee does n o t r e c e l v e h i s c l e a r day ( o r c l e a r days)

o f f a s provlded i n c l . 8 ( j ) by reason o f a change i n

h i s r o s t e r . The wording would be l e s s a p p r o p r i a t e t o

cover t h e c a s e where h i s r o s t e r o r i g i n a l l y f a i l e d t o

p rov ide such c l e a r day ( o r c l e a r days) o f f . I t would

i n such a ca se be d i f f i c u l t t o apply t h e method l a i d

down f o r de te rmin ing t h e tlme f o r which he g e t s p a i d

i n accordance wi th c l . 1 0 ( f ) . The Award seems t o be

c o n s t r u c t e d upon t h e b a s ~ s t h a t t h i s l a t t e r s i t u a t i o n

w i l l n o t occu r , perhaps , on t h e ground t h a t it would

be regarded a s a breach o f t h e Award.

6 . The p rov i s ion made by c l . 1 0 ( f ) may i n some

ci rcumstances produce odd consequence and i n a l l

i

c i rcumstances where	it o p e r a t e s would	appear	t o impose	I
!

i

t

a s u b s t a n t i a l burden upon t h e employer, b u t t h i s

seems t o be d e l i b e r a t e . Whereas o t h e r p r o v i s i o n s

r e f e r r e d t o appear t o be designed t o prov ide a

proper recompense t o t h e employee, c l . 1 0 ( f ) appears

t o be designed p r i m a r i l y t o b r i n g down a s a n c t i o n on

t h e employer who d e p r i v e s h i s employee of t h e minimum

r o s t e r e d days o f f provided f o r by c l . 8 (j) ) . I n o t h e r

words it appears t o be d i r e c t e d r a t h e r a t ensu r ing

t h a t t h e employee w i l l r e c e i v e h i s minimum r e s t and

r e c r e a t i o n r a t h e r than to g i v i n g him recompense i f

he i s depr ived o f it.

I would va ry t h e wording o f t h e o r d e r made by t h e l e a r n e d

t r i a l Judge s o t h a t it r e a d s a s follows:-

"Av! empZoyee who does n o t r e c e i v s a clear' day ( o r

c l e a r d a y s ) o f f a s p r o v i d e d i n c l a u s e 81.7) o f t h e

Award b e c a u s e he p e r f o r m s u o r k o x rz c7,ear dag wh ich

u a s a r o s t e r e d df7y o f J , i r r e s p e c t i v e o j t h a t wor7t

b e i n g o v s r t i m e a t t h e f i n i s h o f t h e s z z i f t p r i o r t o

a rostsr2ed day off o r ~ r i o r I'o :he commev~cemsttl- o f

a s h i f t f o l i o w i n o a r o s t e r e d day o f f , i s e i z t i t Z e d

t o paytnel!t a t t h c r a t e o f d o u b l e Lirns f o r a l l

o r d i n a r y t i m e a c t u a l l y worked i n t h z n e x t r o s t e r e d

s h i f t foLlow?:ng t h e r o s t e r e d d a ? ~ ( o r d a y s ) o J f . "

l I c e r t ~ f y	t h a t thr! L, aud t!:e	Three	I
I

proced ~11% pace;; . - a copy o f t h e

Iia-sons	fo i - :	.	I	-:I cf	i l l s Honour	,	i
I

t h e Chlef Sudge, %IF h .&cl. Eowen !

I Dated: 14-6-7q

-	: . \	- --	\ .
.

' / -

?

I l l T!IE FEDERiiL COURT OF AIJSTRkLIA )

NEW SOUTii T~IhLES	DISTRJCT REGISTRY	)	N.S.W.	KO. 29 o f 1978
)

INDUSTRIAL DTVJS1O:i )

IK TEE IO.T'TE?.of t h e COI'TCILIATIOT\T

AND AKE(ITRATIOII ACT 139Lk

B E T V/ l;: E N:	CP.NBE7F.4 TELEVISIOT'
LTD. E< 0-?S.

A p p e l l a n t s

k !"; D:	TFX AUSTRALIAPT TFEATRICP-L
O NTI.JSEPEF:T EibiiFiOF3ES
ASSOCIATION

R e s p o n d e ~ t

COmM: Bovren C . J . , Srnlthers and N o r t h r o p JJ.

14 Junc 1979

REASOI'TS FOR JUDG?*XFIT

SIqITHERS J.: T h ~ s i s an appeal from an order of s lng le Judge of

t h e Court nade upon an applica-cion by the respondent f o r

an i n t e r p r e t a t i o n of the Tclevlsion Industry A$;at-d 19'77

( the Award) under S .l 10 of the Concllla t lon and I??-bltration

Act 1904.	The appeal i s brought under s .24(1) (a ) of the
-

Federal Court of Austral ia Act 1976. both the appellants

and r ~ s p o n d e n t Mere per-cies t o the Award.

The i n t e rp re t a t i on of the Award sought by the respondert

was t n a t each employee beine, e n t i t l e d t o the b e n e f i b o f clause

8 ( j ) ' ( s e t out belo~:?) i n respect of each c l e a r day ( o r c l e a r days)

off provided f o r the re in , when:

"such c l e a r day ( o r days) i s not granted the provisions

of 1 0 ( f ) apply where the employec performs any xork

on h i s ros tered day off suc11 work i n c l u d ~ n g over-cime

e i t h e r a t the end o r corimencernent of a shift p r i o r t o

o r following a ros tered day off where such overtlme i ~ t r u d e s

upon the r o s ~ e y e d day off a s defined. Accordingly the

employee i n such a situa-ciofi be e:b.tled t o p a y ~ e n t

under clause 10(c) .

The order made by the learned trisl Judge which i s appealed from i s i n the following terms:-

"THE COURT ORDERS TH.4T:

That on the t r u e meaning of a rd in te rpre ta t ion

of the Televlslon Industry Award, 1977:

fkn employee vho does not receive a c l e a r

day o r days off because he works on a

c l e a r day ros tered o f f , xhcther t h a t work

be overtime a t ~ h c f i n i s h of the day p r i o r

t o the ros tered day off o r p r i o r t o the

commence~ent of thc s h i f t follow in^ a

ros tc red day o f f , i s e n t i t l e d t o payment f o r

a l l ordinary time ac tua l l y worked i n the next

ros tered s h l f t following the ros tered day o r

days o f f f . "

The payment re fe r red t o i s c l e a r l y payment a t double t i n e under

clause 1 0 ( f ) .

The a p p l ~ c a t i o n f o r an interprets-cion p r inc ipa l l y

concerned c lauses 7, 8 , 10 and 11 of t h e Arrard. The relelrant

-.

provisions of clauses 7, 8 and l 0 a r e s e t out:-

"7 . - HOURS OF WORK

( a ) The o r d l n a r y hours of work s h a l l n o t exceed

40 hours p e r week o r 80 hour's p e r f o r t n i g h t

o r 1 2 0 hours i n t h r e e consecut ive weeks, t o

be worked ~dne reve r reasonably p o s s l h l e i n

s h l f t s of e hours p e r day and i n any even t

n o t excccdlng 9 hours per day, ( c x c l u s l v e

of meal p e r l o d s ) ..."

"8. - ROSTERS

A l l employees under t h l s award s h a l l bc r o s t -

e r e d f o r t h e i r o r d i n a r y llours of ~.!ork i n

accordance w l t h t h e f ol lowlng p r o v i s i o n s : -

( a ) A l l r o s t e r s s h a l l s p e c i f y t h e commencing

and finishing t imes of t h e o rd ina ry hour's

of work of t h e r e s p e c t i v c s h i f t s f o r each

employee.

(b ) The s t a t l o n concerned r o s t e r s s h a l l be p o s t e d a t t h e

a t l e a s t seven c l e a r

days be fo re t h e y come i n t o o p e r a t i o n ,

p rov ided t i a t a r o s t e r may be departed from

a t s h o r t n o t l c e i n c a s e s of emergency over

which t h e employer h a s no c o n t r o l .

Prpvided f u r t h e r t h a t an employee who r e c e i v e s

l e s s t h a n seven c l e a r days n o t l c e of e change

o f r o s t s r s h a l l be p a i d a t t h e r a t e specified

i n Clause 10 s u b - c l z u z ( e ) of -the award f o r

a l l t ime worked du r ing t h e first shift r e s u l t i n g

from such change t h a t f a l l s o u t s i d e h l s

r o s t e r c d s h l f t ...

( d ) An employee i s e n t i t l e d t o a minimun p e r i o d

of t e n hours b rcek betveen t h e f l n l s i l of

h i s work on one day and zhe s t a r t of h l s work on

t h e nex t day. Provlded t h a t i f a n employee,

on i n s t r u c n o n s from h i s enlployer r?sumcs 1~or.k

wi thout having such a b reak , he s h a l l be p a i d

a t t h e 1,ate of double t une f o r a l l t h e t ime worked u n t i l he has had a break of a t l e a s t t e n hours .

( c ) Ros t e r s may be spread over one, two o r t h r e e

weeks o f hours t h e s h i f t s h a l l be o r d l n a r y t ime.

( f ' ) Where 3 r o s t e r pro.,rides f o r l e s s t h a n f o u r

deeeed t o be

one of f o u r hours o r d i n a r y t l n e .

( g ) A r o s t e r s h a l l n o t p rov ide f o r more t h a n

one s h l l t of f o u r hours i n any r o s t e r week.

L

, ( h ) If by agreement o r o t h e r m s e an cr?ployee i s

r o s t e r e d i n any week of t h e r o s t e r t o work

n o t more t h a n 24 o r d ~ n z r y hour s , such hours

s h a l l be r o s t e r e d i n n o t more t h a n t h r e e

s h l f t s and i f he i s s o r o s t e r e d t o wor!~ n o t

more t h a n 32 o r d l n a r y hours s h a l l be r o s t e r e d

i n n o t more t h a n f o u r s h ~ f - C S .

( i ) Except w i t h t h e consen t of t h e Unlon o r

Unlons where members a r e concerned, r o s t e r e d

o r d i n a r y hours s h d l n o t exceed 48 i n any

week of t h e r o s t e r .

( j ) A l l r o s t e r s s h a l l be such a s t o a l l ow one c l e a r

day o f f i n each r o s t e r week and TO aggrega te

s l x days o f f i n each t h r e e week cyc l e . Employees

of Schedule A respondents i n t h e c l a s s i f l c a t l o n

of Sen lo r D i r e c t o r (nuiiber l ) , D11'2ctor Grade A

(number 3 ) , D i r e c t o r Grade B (number I I ) , and

D l r e c t o r Grade C (number 19) s h a l l be allois:ed

one c l e a r day o f f i n each ?reek and t o agg resa t e

s i x deys o f f i n each t h r e e week c y c l e , bu t i n a l l o t h e r 1-espects Clause 8 does n o t app ly t o

employees i n t h o s e classifications.

In t h l s sub-clausea c l e a r day s h a l l mean:-

( i ) s u b j e c t t o t h e p r o v i s i o n s o f sub-

paragraph ( i i l ) h e r e o f , i n t h e ca se

o f an employee whosc l a s t p reced ing

s h i f t ended a t o r a f t e r 7 p.m. on any day,

n o t l e s s t h a n t h i r t y hour s ;

( i l ) Sub jec t t o t h e provisions of sub-

paragraph ( l i l ) h e r e o f , i n t h e ca se of

an employee whose l a s t preceding s h i f t

ended b e l o r e 7 p.m. on any day, n o t

l e s s t h a n t h i r t y - s i x hour s ;

( i i i ) i n a l l c a s e s whyhere ttro o r more days

o f f a r e g lven consecu t ive ly , t h e second

and subsequent days s h a l l comprise

twenty-four hours .

( k ) Where an employee's r o s t e r e d day o f f f a l l s

on a p u b l l c h o l i d a y , such employee s h a l l

be a l lowed an a d d l t l o n a l day o f f o r have

an a d d l t i o n a l day added t o h l s Annual Leave

o r bc p a i d en a d d l t i o n a l d a y ' s pay i n l i e u

the reo f a s m y be agreed between t h e employer

and t h e employee."

( a )	A l l t lme worked by an employee i n excess
of t h e o r d l n a r y hours s h a l l be overt lme and
s h a l l be p a i d f o r a s fo l lows :

(i) At the rate of tlme and a ha11

f o r t h e f i r s t two hours and doublc

t ime t h e r e a f t e r , ?40nday t o F r iday

inclusive.

( i i ) A t t h e r a t e o f t lme and t h r e e q u a r t e r s

f o r t h e f i r s t two hours and double tln!e

t h e r e a f t e r , on Saturdays .

(iii)	A t t h e r a t e of	double t ime f o r
Sundays.

( i v ) A t t h e r a t e of double t ime and one

h a l f f o r p u b l i c ho l idays ... 11

I n coniputing overtllne each d a y ' s work

( b ) s h a l l s t a n d a l o n e , p rov ided t h a t :vhere

t h e overt ime commences on one day and

continues a f t e r mldnight wi thout

i n t e r r u p t i o n o t h e r t h a n f o r meal b reaks

t h e over-cime s h a l l be p a l d a s havlng been

worked on a cont lnuous b a s l s .

( c )

Except i n t h e c a s e of a change of r o s t e r

of v111ich t h e en~ployee h e s h3d 24 hours

n o t l c c , an employee I I ~ O i s r e q u i r e d t o work

on any day f o r which he i s	r o s t e r e d o f f
du ty pu r suan t t o sub-clcuse	( j ) of Clause 8

o f t h l s Award s h a l l be e n t ~ t l e d t o p a - p e n t

a t t h e r a t e o f double t i n e f o r a l l t lme

worked o r double t ime and one h a l f f o r

p u b l i c h o l l d a y s w i t h a minlmum payment a s

f o r f o u r hours worked.

( d )	Except i n t h e case of overt ime ~ o r k e d i n
accordance w i t h 1 0 ( c ) above, where an

employee having completed h i s work and

having l e f t h i s p l a c e of work 1s r e c a l l e d

f o r work n o t cont lnuous w l t h h i s n e x t

r o s t e r e d s h i f x he s h a l l k p a l d f o r t h a t

c a l l two hours a t double t ime and i n

a d d i t l o n o v e r t i r ~ e a t t h e r a t e of double
t ime f o r a l l t ime worked on t h a t c a l l . . . .
( f )	An employee wino does noT; r e c e i v e a c l e a r
day ( o r c l e a r days) o f f a s provided i n
c l a u s e 8 sub-clause ( j ) r o s t e r s s h a l l be
p a i d a t t h e r a t e of double t ime f o r a l l
o r d i n a r y t l z e a c t u a l l y ::orked i n t h e nex t
r o s t e r e d s l n l t f o l l o l ~ i n g t h e r o s t e r e d day
( o r days) o f f .
( g )	When r eques t ed by t h e employer an employee
s h a l l work such overt lme a s i s neces sa ry
t o meiz t h e reasonable needs of t n e

employer."

The application r a i s e s d i f f i c u l t questions of construct ion

of c lauses of the Award making complicated provisions wlth

respkct t o employment, r o s t e r s and overtime. In a s e t of

provisions deal ing with such complicated m a t t e l s i t would not be

surpr i s ing t h a t vhat appear t o be ancrnrilies nnght l u rk hlhatever

i n t e r p r e t a t i o n is adopted. Accordingly it appeers to me t h z t iI

an overa l l 0bjec t lve of the Award, r a t i o n a l snd f a i r i n content

and v i thou t sig;i1icant aliomalles, can be perceived t h z t object lve

should be glven considerable welght i n the const ruct ion of

individual clauses of the Award. To my mind i t i s p o s s ~ b l e t o

perccive the object ive of the Award re levant t o the questions

ra i sed . That general objec t lve i s t o provlde one c l e a r day i n each

week and s l x c l e a r days i n each th ree week cycle a s days Tor res-c

and rec rea t ion but t o permlt invasion of a l l ros tered r e s t days

sub jec t i n c e r t a i n circumstances t o payment of penal ty r a t e s i n

respect of the time ac tua l l y worked wlien such r e s t days a r e

lnvaded and penal ty r a t e s f o r an add i t iona l s h i f t worked i n ord-

ina ry time vhiere the c l e a r day off i n each week o r the s i x days

o f f i n each three week cycle a r e not received.

According t o the Awa~d, the ordlnary hours of work s h a l l

not exceed 40 hours per week o r 80 hours per fo r tn igh t o r 120

hours i n th ree consecutive weeks, t o be worked wherever

reasonably poss lb le i n s h i f t s of e igh t hours per day and i n any

event not more than nine hours per day exclusive of meal

perlods (Clause 7 ( a ) ) . L11 time worked by employee i n

excess of ordlnary hours s h a l l be overtime and paid f o r a t

time and a ha l f f o r the f i r s t two hours and double time

t h e r e a f t e r ICo~day t o Frlday, a t the ra-ce of tlme and th ree

quar te r s Tor the f i r s t two hours and double time khereaf-cc:r

on S a t u r d a ~ , double time Sundays and the r a t e of double

time and one ha l f on publ ic holldays (c lause 1 0 ( a ) ) . In

computing overtime each day's work s h a l l s tand alone, but

where the overtime cxtonds over midnlght it v n 1 1 be

t r e a t e d as continuous ('clause 1 0 ( b ) ) . The ordillary hours

of work, al-e t o be ros tered i n accordance ~ r i ~ h	the	following
provisions of clause 8 : -

( a ) commericingand f ln ishi l lg time t o be s t a t e d ;

(b ) r o s t e r s may spread over one, two o r th ree

weeks of ordlnary time;

( c ) a r o s t e r may provide s h l f t s sho r t e r than

e igh t hours,but i f l e s s than four hours s h d l l

be deemed t o be four hours;

(d ) not more than one shi l ' t of four hours i n any r o s t e r

week s h a l l be provided;

( e ) the r o s t e r i s t o be posted up a t l e a s t seven

c l e a r days before it comes l n t o operation, but

it may be departed from on s h o r t n o t i c e i n cases

of emergency over whlch an employer has no control .

e ere after I r e f e r t o such an emergency merely a s

an emergency).

It i s sa id by the appel lant t h a t the i n t e r ~ r e t a t l o n

declared i n the judgment m d e r a p p a l operates i n so anomalous

a mar?ner i n c e r t a i n s i t u a t i o n s t h a t it i s not TO be thought t h a t

the Lward on i t s proper 1ntcPpretat ion could so provide.

Exemplifying one anomaly it i s pointed out t h e t thc inkerpre ta t ion

adopted i n the judgment appealed f ro= contemplates -tl?at i n h

situation i n -~111ich with l e s s than twenty-four hours not ice

an employee i s required t o -,/ark, f o r a per lod, no matter how

sho r t , on a day which i s h i s ros tered off day he w l l l , pursuant

t o clause 10(c ) of the Award, be e n t l t l e d t o double time a s

f o r four hours work, and a l so pursuant t o clause 1 0 ( f ) t o

double time f o r a l l ordinary time ac tua l l y worked i n the

next ros te red s h i f t following the ros te red day o f f .

It i s sa id a l so t h a t according t o Lhe i n t e rp re t a t i on

adopted i n t h e judgment under appeal an e~nployee who enjoyed

one c l e a r day off , where i n a p a r t i c u l a r week he worked

on each of two non-consecutive days i n t h a t ?reek vrhich were

days i n respect of which he had been ros te red o f f , may be pald

f o r each day a t r a t e s prescribed by clause 10(c ) and a l so

receive two payments a t the penal ty r a t e s provlded i n clause 10

( f ) . It woul-d seem t h a t the interpretation adopted i n the

judgment under revlev! v!ould e n t i t l e an cnployee who works on one

only of two o r more ros te red days off i n any week t o a

payment i n accordance !:l-ch penalty ra tes . provided i n clause

0 . The g e ~ e r a l submlsslon of the appe l lv l t was t h e t clzuse

1 0 ( f ) should be interpreted as havlng app l lca t lon only i n cases

7:rllere i n respect of tlme worked on a ros te red day off penalty

r a t e s were not payable pursuant t o clause 1 0 ( c ) , o r it would

seem under some other provision of the A3::ard.

However, it was submitted f o r t h e respondent t h a t t h e

so -ca l l ed anomalies were n o t such a s t o r e q u l r e t h a t t h e

p l a i n mesnilig of c lauselO(I ' )should be r j ua l l f i ed o r modlficd.

It was s a i d t h a t what a r e c a l l e d a n o n a l l e s a r e i n r c e l i t y merely

what some persons n i g h t r ega rd a s provisions f o r h igh

p e n a l t i e s f o r l o s s of r e s t and r e c r e a t i o n . It was s a l d t h z t

t h e provisions d l d n o t involve any l n t e r n a l c o n t r a d l c t l o n

between terms of t h e P.v!ard o r any lncongru l ty . It was

argued, t h a z s o f a r a s t h e degree of burdcn on t h e employer

a r l s l n g from t h e p r o v i s i o n s was r e l i e d upon, t h s t l r a s a ~ a t t e r

f o r t h e judgment of t h e Award r a k l n g authority.

It appears t o me t h a t t h e r e i s much f o r c e i n t h e s e

submiss ions . The q u e s t i o n s a r l s i n g i n this case a r e t o be

determined by a s c e r t a i n i n g t h e meaning of t h e A~rard upon

o r d i n a r y principles. Q u a l i f l c a t l o n of t h e meening of t h e

p r o v i s i o n s of t h e Award according t o t h e o rd ina ry 2nd n a t u r a l

rneanlng t h e r e o f i n response t o t h e suggested a n o ~ a l i e s could

on ly be j u s t i f i e d v e r e t h e r e sone amblgul ty i n t h o s e

p r o v i s i o n s vrhicll c a l l e d Tor r e s o l u t i o n by r e f e rence t o t h e anornalles.

I do n o t t h l n k t h a t t h i s i s t h e ca se 111 r e l a t i o n t o t h l s Award.

A s w i l l be s een i n what fo l lows it i s my view t h a t by

r ea son o f t h e terms of t h e Avra rd ,pa r t i cu l a r ly c l a u s e s 8 ( b )

and 10(c) , an o r i g i n a l r o s t e r which may be f o r one, two, o r

t h r e e weeks may be chenged a t s h o r t n o t ~ c e a f t e r be ing pcs t ed . If

it i s changed i n such a manner' t h a t not1:l thstanding t h e chrnge

t h e employee r e c e l v e s h i s one c l e a r day o f f t h e n he w i l l have

-

received hls one clear day off "as provided in clause 8 ( j ) "

although the day received 1s not the day tih~ch was a

ros tered off day accordlng to the orlglnal roster.

Ifl~en the first part of clause IO(1) is applled the

quest1011 is not whether the emplcyee worltcd on a dey or d ~ y s in respect of 7.1111ch he was previously rostered off but :ifiether he had received one clear day off in a partlcular week or six

days off in a partlcular three week cycle. What I call the first

part of clause 10(f) lays dowi the condit;ons under \!hlch

the penalty rates referred to are payable. That part of clause

1 0(f) which specifies the rates end the 1-elevant sl~lfts in

respect of t~hlch they-are payable, I call the second part.

Where the answer to the enquiry rererred to above is that in respect of the particular week or the ~artlcular cycle

the employee dld not recelve one clear day off in the :ueek or

six clear days off in the three week cycle it becomes necessary

to consider \{hat shift it is that is comprehended by the words

in clause 10(f) "the next rostered shift following the rostered

day (or days) off". Of course if it has hsppened in a week

that the empl-oyee was original.1~ rostered off for the last day

or the last ti:o days of a partlcular weck but by departure

from or change of the roster at late notlce he vas requlred to

work on that day or those days, then that day or those days

become days in respect of -~:lllcti accordlng to the roster as

amended, he was rostered on. Accordingly to flnd the shlft

referred to in the second part it is necessary to ascertain

with respect to which roster the rostered day(or days)

off are to be ide~~tlfled accord1r.g to the flnal words of

clause lO(f). It appears to me that on the proper inter- pretatlon of that sub-clause the rostered day referred to at the end thereof ss a day on which the cmpl.oyee actually

worked 2nd ~rhlch un-til the flnal change of roster whereby

he was required to work on that day, was a rostered day

off elther accordlng to the original roster or that roster

as amended. Were there is more than one of such days

in any week or three week cycle the relevant rostered day

off will be the last of such days. No doubt repeated

changes of roster would be exceptional and the relevant

rostered day off would usually be a rostered day off

accordlng to the original roster.

The shift in respect of work 011 whlch the penalty

rates provlded in clause 1O(f) are payable is the

flrst shlft after that day on vrhich the work done is

ordinary work. Ord~nary work means %or-!c performed at

- ordinary rates.

It appears to me that, although it is not critlcal to

this declsion to so hold, the firs-c proviso to clause Z ( b )

pe rml t s an emergency depa r tu re from t h e r o s t e r wi thout

t h e employer be ing sub.]ected t o any p e n a l t y t h e r e m d e r i n

r e s p e c t of t h e work done on t h e r e l e v a n t r o s t e r e d o f f day. But from tune t o t ime it viould no doubt be neces sa ry o r a t

l e a s t d e s i r a b l e for. t h e employer t o d e p a r t from t h e r o s t e r i n

circumstances o t h e r t h a n an emergency. It ~vould seem t h e t t h e

second p r o v l s o i s in t ended t o covcr such c a s e s . lfiiat it

env i sages i s t h a t t h e r o s t e r may be changed with seven days

n o t i c e o r l e s s t h a n seven days n o t i c e . The i m p l l c a t l o n i s

t h a t a change of 18111ich seven days n o t l c e i s g iven a t t r a c t s

no p e n a l t y , bu t a change on l e s s t h a n seven days n o t i c e i nvo lves

payment f o r t h e hours worked on t h e day ~ i h l c h had o r i g i n a l l y

been a r o s t e r e d o f f day a t t h e overt lme r a t e s provided i n

c l a u s e 1 0 ( a ) . Khere t h e n o t i c e i s of l e s s tllan trrenty-four

hours c l a u s e 1 0 ( c ) t a k e s t h e m a t t e r up and p rov ides h i e h e r

r a t e s of payment.

If a change of r o s t e r 1s p e r m i s s i b l e , on terms of course

as t o p e n a l t y r a t e s where a p p l i c a b l e , t h e n f o r t h e purpose of

t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n of c l a u s e s 8 er,d 10 t~!o o r more r o s t e r s may be

involved. F i r s t t h e r o s t e r a s o r i g i n a l l y pos t ed and second

- t h a t r o s t e r a s amsnded. Thus, f o r i n s t a n c e , i f a r o s t e r f o r a

week provided f o r a p a r t i c u l a r c l e a r day o f f , t h e employee may

be r e q u i r e d t o work on t h a t day a s i f it were a r o s t e r e d day

on. In such a ca se he $iouid probably have r ece ived n o t i c e of

t h e change l e s s t h a n seven days be fo re -the day e r f c c t e d by t h e

c h ~ n g e . Therefore s u b j e c t t o c l zuse 1 0 ( c ) , he ~ o u l d r?cej.ve

c l a u s e 1 0 ( a ) r a t e s f o r t h e a p p r o p r i a t e p e r i o d of or i l lnary

work performad on t h e day o r i g i r a l l y r o s t e r e d o f r .

From t h e ve ry terms of c l a u s c s 8 ( b ) acd 1 0 ( c ) l t 1s

c l e a r t h a t t h e p r l n c i p l & ~ ; h a t a r o s t e r may be changed i s accepted.

The p e n a l t y prov is ions t h e r e i n 21-e consequc-ntisl on t h i s .

It i s involved i n t h x c 0 n ~ e p - t t h a t j u s t a s a rostel-cd day

of f !nay become an amended ros-cered day on, s o a day

o$ ig lna l ly r o s t e r e d on Inay be c o n v e r ~ e d t o a r o s t e r c d

day o f f . Accordingly, where even a p a r t fron: an emergency,

t h e r e i s a change o f r o s t e r on seven days n o t l c e a s

con te~np la t ed by c l a u s e 8 ( b ) t h e r s 1s no p e ~ a l t y thereunder n e r c l y

because of t h e change. Eut i f t h c change ,clere such a s t o

cause t h e employee n o t t o I1recelve" one c l c e r day o f f i n

any \;eek, o r l e s s t h a n s i x dbys o f S i n t h r e e weeks, t h e n

t h e r c would be a p e n a l t y pursuant t o c l ause 1 0 ( f ) . S u t

t h e change of r o s t e r need n o t n e c e s s a r i l y cause t h e employee

n o t t o t l receivel l t h e p~-escribe--J(! c l e a r day, o r s l x days off , i n

any week o r c y c l e of t h r e e s e e k s . For t!le purposes of

c l a u s e 1 0 ( f ) it i s only one c l e a r day i n each p a r t i c u l a r

week znd s i x c l e a r days f o r each t h r e e week c y c l e 1~111ch

a R c r i t i c a l , so t h a t i f c l e a r deys o r i g i z a l l y r o s t e r e d o f f

a r e r o s t e r e d on and t h e employee works or1 such dayc, t hose

days may, i f t lme p e r m i t s , be made up by a p p r o p r i a t e

amendment of Lhe r o s t e r t o p r o ~ ~ ~ d e z l t r n a t i v e c l s a r days

o f . There 1s no p ? n a l t y provided f o r ro s t e r i r l g o f f a day

o r i g i n a l l y r o s t e r e d on. The p e n e l t i e s a!tach t o work

--

performed on days previously ros tcred o f f . In the cvrnt

of no-cice of change of r o s t e r gursuant t o v:l~lch an

employee i s required t o -.:ark on a day f o r v111lch he w d s

o r i g ina l l y ros te red o f f , then, i f t h a t not ice i s l e s s than

seven days thc penalty i s -chat provided f o r i n the second

provlso t o clause 8(b) , subject t o t h e o_ualif icnt ion t h s t

i f the not ice bc of l e s s than t;:en~y-f3ur hours the o~rer-iime raxes

provlded i n clause 10(c ) a re applicable. From the Terms

of clause 10 (c ) it i s t o be gathered t h a t when on not ice

of twenty-four hours o r more an employee i s required t o

work on a day o r ig ina l l y ros tered a s a dzy o f f , t h e concept

i s t h a t a change of r o s t e r has occurred. The serce must be t rue

where l e s s than twenty-four hours notico has been given.

But i n the l a t t e r case the overtime r a t e s pr ,nded by

clause 10(c ) a re payable r a t h e r than the r a t c s provided

f o r payment i n clause 8 ( b ) .

Accordingly subject t o pene l t l e s , unde?

c lauses D(b) and 10(c ) , a graar, deal of

flexibility i s accorded t o the employer a s t o the ac tua l

days and times on whlch the employee may be ros tc red on o r

ros te red o f f . Recognising t!lat t h i s flexibility may r e s u l t

I n the employee not receiving proper days off f o r r e s t and

r e c r e a t i o n , c l e u s e l ~ ( f ) ,>rovldes Tor a p e ~ a l t y deslgned t o

discourage r o s t e r changes t h a t migh~; have t h a t e f f e c t . That

sub- clause talces up the c l e a r day provisions of clause

8 ( j ) t h a t tk:? r o s t e r s h a l l allow one c l e e r day

off i n each r o s t e r wcek and SIX c l e a r dnys off l n each

th ree week cycle and provides t h a t if the employee does not receive a c l e a r dey ( o r c l e a r days) o f f a s so provided then

the penalty rates for a designated shif-c shall be psyable.

It is to be observed that clause 10(f) does not provlde

that the penalty shall apply if a day or~glnally rostered

oIf is a day when in fact the employee was requlred to ~.\lorlr. It is concerted only wlth the positlon as observed at the end of each week and at the end of each cycle. The enquiry 1s :lot whether the expl-oyee worked for some perlod on any day in

respect of ~hhlch he was originally rostered off. The enqulry

at the week's end is: dld lie recelve one clear day off? Of course in obedience to clause 8 ( j ) all rosters, orlginal or anended, must provide for the oRe clear day off each week and

for slx clear days off in each three week cycle. The relevant

clauses are constructed on the basls thet this provision will

be observed. An orlpnal roster vihich dld not comply ~ i t h

this provision would be a breech of the Award. Accordingly an

employee t\rho workec! for 2 vihole week 111 accordance ';nth a

roster which orlglnally d ~ d noi; roster him off for at least

one day, must be considered es havlng falled to receive one

clear rostered day off. He 1s certa~nly an employee v130 dld

not recelve 2 clear day off "as prov1,ded by cleuse 8 ( j ) I 1 .

There is some difficulty in the appllcatlon of clause

10(f) in such a situation because tkcre is no rostered day

off by reference to 7,ihich to ldentlfy the shift in respect

of vihich Lhe penalty rates provided for in clause 10(f)

are to be paid. It may bc that in such a case an implicazlon

arlses that the end of thc week or of the three week cycle

is to be regarded as the rostered off day by reference to wnich the

penalty shlft should be sscertalned. Gut it is ulllkely thzt any --.

o r i g i n a l r o s t e r would f a l l t o p rov ide f o r the r o s t e r e d o f f

days p r e s c r i b e d by c l ause 8 ( j ) acd it i s nob necessai-y f o r

p r e s e n t purposes t o detcrmlne f i n a l l y what t h e const=uuences

of such a breach of t h e Award would e n t a i l . It msy be notcd

t h a t t h e p rov lc ions of s .129 01 t!le C o n c i l i a t i o ~ and i r b i t r l t l ~ n -

Act 1904 i:ould be a p p l i c a b l e . Filt an a~:enl?ed r o s t c r may )!ell

be such t h a t t h e r o s t e r e d o f f day o r days i n any week may

become a r o s t e r c d on day o r days tsathout any of t h e

o r i g i n a l l y r o s t c r e d on days being changed t o r o s t e r c d o f f

days. I n t h a t ca se it would f o l l o w t h a t i n t h a t week t h e

employee had n o t r ece ived h i s one c l e w day o f f and so had qualified f o r t h e p e n a l ~ y payr,ient providcd by c l a u s e 1 0 ( f ) .

The r e l e v a n t s h i f t w i t h r e s p c c t t o t h e work on i.rhicl.1 t h e paymcnt

would be c a l c u l a t e d ~ o u l d , z s i n d i c a t e d above, be t h e l a s t dey

on v!hich work was done, tsrhlch p r l o r t o t h e employee belng

r e q u l r c d t o work the reon ::as a r o s t e r e d o f f day.

It i s t o be no ted t h a t a l t h o u ~ h a n amended r o s t e r , l i k e

t h e o r i g i n a l r o s t e r , must p rov ide f o r a t l e a s t one r o s t e r e d

day o f f i n d l c week, t h e h a r d does n o t r e q u i r e t h a t t h e r e be

more t h a n one r o s t e r e d day o f f i n any p a r t i c u l a r week. I n a

c a s e , where f o r i n s t a n c e , durjn,: a week, work %:as performed

on one of two r o s t e r e d o I f days end l e s s then twenty-four

hours n o t i c e t o wor:: d u r ~ n g t h a t day was r cce ived by t h e

employee, it would b s t r u e t o s a y t h a t t h e employee had

worked on a r o s t e r e d dey o f f . B-07; ~f dur inx t h a t weck he

" r ece lved t l h i s o t h e r r o s t e r e d day o f f , t h e n a t t h e end of t h a t

week it a l s o 1*7ould be xrue t o s a y t h a ~ h(? had r ece lved one

c l e a r d2y o f f a s provided i n c l a u s e 8 ( j ) and c l a u s e 1 0 ( f )

-

would n o t apply. The < a c t t h a t the r o s t s r of ally p a r t i c u l a r

week a c t u a l l y a l lowed t~xlo c l e a r days o f f , and t11a-c one of

t h e s e was n o t llrecelvedll does n o t near. t h a t a t the cnd of t h e

week t h e employee had n o t r e c e i v e d a c l e a r day or'f a s

p rov lded i n c l a ~ ~ s e 8 ( j )

Clause 1 0 ( f ) p rov ides g e n a l t i e s i f t h e employee does n o t

" r e c e i v e n a c l e a r day ( o r c l e a r dcys) o f f a s provided i n

c l a u s e 8 ( j ) . The vrords Ifor c l e a r days1! where t h e y appear

i n b r a c k e t s i n c l a u s e 1 0 ( f ) a r e c l e a r l y a reference t o t h e

s l x days of t h e c y c l e a s opposed t o t h e one day of t h e week

s p e c i f i e d i n c l a u s e 8 ( j ) . The expression I f c l ea r day ( o r c l e a r

days) o f f r r I n c l a u s e 1 0 ( f ) s i ts comfortably w i th c l a u s e 8 ( j )

and of coursn t h a t c l a u s e i s e x p r e s s l y r e f e r r e d t o t h e r e l n .

Eut of course t h e l o s s of one of t h e c l e a r days o f f

p rov ided f o r l n t h e r o s t e r might mean t h a t u n l e s s f i v e days

had been r o s t e r e d o f f du r lng t h e l a t e r weeks, i f any, of

t h e c y c l e , o r s t e p s were t a k e n t o p rov lde such days o f f by

changing t h e o r l g l n a l r o s t e r f o r t h o s e weeks, t h e n a t t h e end

of t h e t h r e e veek c y c l e , t h e employee would n o t have r ece ived

t h e s l x days o f f a s p rov ided by c l a u s e 8 ( j ) . I n t h k t event

c l e u s e 1 0 ( £ ) v:ould come i n t o o p e r a t i o n and t h e p e n a l t y payment

p rov lded	t h e r e l n would	be	p a l d	f o r t h e	s h l f t de s igna t ed i n c l e u s e
1 0 ( f 1.

The intention of c l a u s e 10(f) i s n o t t o p re se rve t h e

- i n v i o l a b i l i t y of t h e r o s t e r , buz t o ensure xha t t h e b a s l c

r e s t and r e c r e a t i o n r squ l rements of c l ause 8 ( j ) , namely a t

l e a s t one day o f f each week o r s l x days o f 1 i n each t h r e e week

c y c l e a r e enjoyed.

I n apply lng c l a u s e 1 0 ( f ) a t t h e end of each t h r e e week

c y c l e t h e c r i t e r i o n i s irhether t h e employee has r ece ived

six r o s t e r e d days oYf. If by be ing c a l l e d upon

t o work dur lng t h a t cyc1.e on any r o s t e r e d day of^", I o r no

m a t t c r how s h o r t a t ime , t h e employee has n o t , a t t h e end

of t h e t h r e e ::eek cyc l e r ece ived i n f u l l , S I X ~ * o s t e r e d

days o f f , t h e n he would be w l t h l n t h e t ~ r r n s of c l a u s e 1 0 ( f )

a n employee,v!ho had n o t r e c e i v e d " c l e a r days o f f " a s provid,?d

I n c l a u s e	E ( j ) , and	t h e p r o v l s l o n s	of	c l a u s e	1 0 ( f ) v!ouid
apply *

I t i s t o be observed t h a t i n r e s p e c t of t ime worlcc-d on

any day ivlilch was a r o s z e r e d o f f day t h e employee r e c e i v e s

h i g h e r r a t e s i n accordence w i t h c l a u s e s S ( b ) and 1 0 ( c )

u n l e s s t h e work was performed on t h z t day a s a r e s u l t of

an emergency o r upon seven days n o t i c e of change of

r o s t e r . The p e n a l t y r a t e s a r e t h e c o n s i d e r z r l o n f o r a

change whether o r n o t it causes t h e employce n o t t o r e c e i v e

h i s one day .o f f i n a wee!: o r h i s sl:c days o f f i n a t h r e e

week cyc l e . If t h e change does lnvolve e i t h e r of t h o s e

d e p r i v a t i o n s of t lme o f f , c l ause 1 0 ( f ) a p p l l e s and imposes

a n o ~ h e r pena l ty .

When an employee i s r e q u i r e d t o work on a r o s t e r e d day o f f

t h e t ime C e r t a i n l y t h e r e i s no he works, no t? . i ths tanding c l a u s e 10 (a ) , i s n o t o v c r t i z e .

sugges t ion t h z ~ it i s overtirne I n t h e

ce se of a change on l e s s t h a n seven deys end more t h a n t:!enty-four

hours n o t i c e . Clause 1 0 ( c ) i s i n the overt ime sec-clon

of t h e Award, b u t it i s c l e a r from i ts ve ry terms t h a t

even t lme worked on an o r i g l n e l l y r o s t e r e d day o f f is t lme

worked accord ing t o a changed r o s t e r . It i s e s s e n t l e l l y

a changed r o s t e r and n o t o v e r t i ~ e whether t h e r e was seven

days n o t i c e o r 24 hours o r l e s s n o t l c e , b u t i n t h e l e t t e r ce.?c tile

additional p e n a l t y a k i n to an over t ime r a t e , i s pay?,ble

under c l a u s e 1 0 ( c ) . O f course ~f zhe change of r o s t e r

occurs i n t h e l a s t veek of t h e c y c l e , it \:ill be ve ry ll!<ely

t h a t it w i l l be l ~ g p o s s i b l e t o g ive t h e enployee h i s SIX days

o f f and acco rd ing ly c l a u s e 1 0 ( f ) w i l l s pp ly .

Accordingly, I c o n s l d e r t h a t accord ing t o t h e t r u e

meaning of c l a u s e 1 0 ( f ) t h e p e n a l t y t h e r e l n inposed i s

a p p l i c a b l e where i n r e s p e c t of any r o s t e r week t h e en~ployee

h a s n o t " r ece ived" , t h a t i s enjoyed, one c l e a r r o s t e r t d o f f

day and i n r e s p e c t of each t h r e e week c y c l e r e f e r r e d to l n

c l a u s e 8 ( j ) a n enlployee h a s n o t " r e c e i v e d u , t h a t i s e ~ l j o y e d ,

s i x c l e a r r o s t e r e d o f f days o f f , and t h a t i n r e s p e c t of any

'week i n v!hlch one c l e a r day o f f was n o t received, double t ime

f o r a l l o r d i n a r y t ime a c x u a l l y worked i n t h e nex t r o s t e r e d

s h i f t f o l l owing t h e day r o s t e r e d o f f b u t whlch was n o t "receivedI1

i s payable , and i n r e s p e c t of any c y c l e of t h r e e weeks r e f e r r e d

t o i n c l a u s e 8 ( j ) , double t ime f o r a l l o r d i n a r y t lme a c t u a l l y

worked i n t h e n e x t r o s t e r e d s h i f t fo l lowing t h e l e s t day

or l .g ina l ly r o s t e r e d o f f b u t v~h lch ::.as n o t I1received" 1s payable .

If a t t h e end of a t h r e e week c y c l e t h e employee has n o t

r e c e i v e d s i x c l e a r days i n t h e c y c l e and a l s o has n o t r ece ived

one r o s t e r e d o f f day o f f In t h a t les t week t h e n two occas ions

f o r impos i t i on of t h e c l a u s e 1 0 ( i ) p e n a l t y payment will have

occurred. If a t -che end of a c y c l e c l a u s e 1 0 ( f )

imposes a p e n a l t y f o r non-receipt o f one c l e a r day o f f i n

the l a s t week and a p e n a l t y f o r non-receipt of s i x c l e a r

days o f f i n ths t h r e e veek c y c l e t h e p e n a l t y r a t e s pu r suan t

t o clause 1 0 ( f ) I n respect of each occasion may, according

t o t h a t c lause , both be payeble i n respect of the same s h l l t

-

when ordinary tlme i s -1or1ced. ,.n such case clause 11 w l l l apply.

It provldes thaz the r e t e s p r e s c r ~ b s d a s pzyments edd i t lona l t o

minLnlum ordlnary weekly r a t e s , s h a l l not be cumul.at~ve so a s t o

exceed t h e maxlrnu~n of double tlrne except on publlc liolldays

when t h e rnaxlmum s h a l l be doubl? time and one h e l f . It is not

contemplated by the Av:ard t h a t any t h r ee week cycle s h a l l

overlap -:rith any other such cycle. The corrnencing time of

the th ree week cycle in respect of an;r employee w l l l be de- termlned a s a matter of f a c t according t o the circumstances

of h ~ s employment including the cornrnenclnz date and i t s

cont lnul ty .

The order appealed f ron should be var ied t o read:-

"That on t h e t r u e meaning and i n t e r p r e t a t i o n of t h e

Te l ev i s io~ l Industry Airard 1977:

'h enployee who does not recelve a c l e a r

day ( o r c l e a r days) off a s provlded i n

clause 8(5) of the AT.-srd because he performs

work on a c l e a r day v:hlch vras a ros tered day of f

irrespective of t h a t work belng overtlme a t

the f l n l s h of the s h l f t p r i o r t o a ros te red day

off o r prior t o t h e comencement of a s h i f t

follovrlng a ros te red day o f f , i s e n t l t l e d t o

p a p e n t a t the r a t e of doublc tlme f o r a l l

ordicary tlme ac tun l ly worked i n the r?e;:t

ros te red s h i f t f o l l o ~ l ~ i g the ros te red day

(o r days) o f f . "

I N TIIE FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTPALIA

NEW SOUTII VIALES DISTRICT REGISTRY	No. 29 of 1978.
INDUSTRIAL DIVISION
B E T W E E N :

CANBERRA TELEVISION LTD. & ORS. Appel lan ts

and

THE AUSTRALIAN THEATRICAL AND

AMUSENENT EMPLOYEES' ASSOCIATION Respondents

NORTHROP J. REASONS FOR JUDGMENT 14 June , 1979.

Th i s i s an appea l from an o r d e r under

s.110 Conciliation and Arbitration Act 1904 a s amended, made

by t h e Fede ra l Court o f A u s t r a l i a c o n s t i t u t e d by a s i n g l e

Judge and raises f o r consideration t h e l n t e r p r e t a t l o n o f t h e

Television I n d u s t r y Award 1977, t h e Award, made under t h e Act.

Clause 10 o f t h e Award i s headed "Overtime" and c l a u s e 1 0 ( f )

"An employee who does n o t r e c e i v e a c l e a r

day ( o r c l e a r days) o f f a s p rov lded i n c l a u s e

8 sub-clause (1) r o s t e r s s h a l l be p a l d a t t h e

r a t e o f double t i m e f o r a l l o r d i n a r y t l m e

a c t u a l l y worked i n t h e nex t r o s t e r e d s h l f t

f o l l owing t h e r o s t e r e d day ( o r days) o f f . "

The o r d e r appealed from was made on 1 4 November 1978 and

i s a s fo l lows:

"That on t h e t r u e meaning of and interpretation

of t h e Television I n d u s t r y Award 1977:

l ' , 'An employee who does n o t r e c e i v e a c l e a r

day o r days o f f because he works on a c l e a r

day r o s t e r e d o f f , whether t h a t work be

over t ime a t t h e f l n l s h of t h e day p r l o r

t o t h e r o s t e r e d day o f f o r p r i o r t o t h e

commencement o f a s h l f t following a r o s t e r e d

day o f f , is e n t l t l e d t o payment f o r a l l

o r d i n a r y t lme a c t u a l l y worked i n t h e nex t

r o s t e r e d s h l f t f o l l owing t h e r o s t e r e d

day o r days o f f ' . "

A t t h e o u t s e t it is no ted t h a t

t h e r e appears t o be a typographic mls take i n t h e form o f

t h e o r d e r i n t h a t t h e r a t e o f payment i s n o t s p e c i f i e d , bu t

t h i s does n o t a f f e c t t h e i s s u e t o be dec ided on t h l s appea l .

The award i s b ind ing upon a number

of o r g a n i z a t i o n s , i n c l u d i n g t h e Australian T h e a t r i c a l and

Amusement Employees' Assoc i a t i on , t h e respondent , and a

l a r g e number of employers, t h e a p p e l l a n t s . The Award b inds

t h e a p p e l l a n t s w l th r e s p e c t t o a l l employees, whether

members o f t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n s o r n o t , employed by them i n t h e

c l a s s l f l c a t i o n s s p e c i f l e d i n t h e Award . The Award makes

p r o v i s i o n f o r c o n d i t i o n s o f employment, including wage r a t e s ,

t o be observed by t h e a p p e l l a n t s . Clause 7 of t h e Award is

headed "HOURS OF WORK" and i s a s fo l lows :-

"7. - HOURS OF WORK.

( a ) The o r d i n a r y hours o f work s h a l l n o t

exceed 4 0 hours p e r week o r 80 hours

p e r f o r t n i g h t o r 120 hours i n t h r e e

consecutive weeks , to be worked wherever

reasonably p o s s i b l e i n s h i f t s of 8

hours p e r day and i n any even t n o t

exceeding 9 hours p e r day, ( e x c l u s i v e

of meal p e r l o d s ) . . , "

Clause 7 ( b ) p rov ides f o r an excep t ion which i s n o t r e l e v a n t f o r

p r e s e n t purposes and need n o t be set o u t . From what appears

i n o t h e r c l a u s e s of t h e Award, i n C l a u s e ' 7 ( a ) t h e word "day"

is t o be c a l c u l a t e d from midnight t o midnlght whi le t h e word

" s h i f t " r e f e r s t o t h e p e r i o d of	t h e o r d l n a r y	hours	of	work	a n
any one day.

Clause 8 is headed "ROSTERS" and I set

o u t t h e r e l e v a n t sub-c lauses : "8. 3 ROSTERS

A l l employees under t h i s award s h a l l be

r o s t e r e d f o r t h e i r o r d i n a r y hours of work

i n accordance	w i t h t h e fo l lowing
p rov i s ions : -

(a) A l l r o s t e r s s h a l l s p e c l f y t h e commencing

and f i n i s h i n g t l m e s o f t h e o r d l n a r y hour s

o f work o f t h e respective s h l f t s f o r each

employee. 3 .

Y (b) The r o s t e r s s h a l l be p o s t e d a t t h e ,

s t a t i o n concerned a t l e a s t seven c l e a r

days b e f o r e t hey come i n t o o p e r a t i o n ,

p rov ided t h a t a r o s t e r may be depa r t ed from

a t s h o r t n o t l c e i n c a s e s o f emergency ove r

which t h e employer has no c o n t r o l .

Provided f u r t h e r t h a t S a n employee who r e c e i v e s less

t h a n seven c l e a r days n o t l c e of a change

o f r o s t e r s h a l l be p a i d a t t h e r a t e

s p e c i f i e d i n Clause 10 sub-clause ( a )

o f t h e award f o r a l l t i m e worked du r ing t h e

first s h l f t r e s u l t i n g from such change t h a t

f a l l s o u t s l d e h i s r o s t e r e d s h i f t ...

(d) An employee i s e n t i t l e d t o a minimum p e r l o d

of t e n hours b reak between t h e f l n i s h of

h i s work on one day and t h e s t a r t of h i s work on

t h e n e x t day. Provided t h a t i f an employee,

on i n s t r u c t i o n s from h i s employer r e s u m e s

work wi thou t having such a b reak , he s h a l l be

p a i d a t t h e r a t e o f double t i m e f o r a l l t h e ,b

t ime worked u n t i l he h a s had a b reak o f a t

l e a s t t e n hours .

(e) Ros t e r s may be spreadover one , two o r t h r e e

weeks of o r d i n a r y t i m e .

( f ) Where a r o s t e r p rov ides f o r l e s s t han f o u r

hours t h e s h i f t s h a l l be deemed t o be one of

f o u r hours o r d i n a r y t i m e .

( g ) A r o s t e r s h a l l n o t p rov ide f o r more t h a n

one s h i f t o f f o u r hours i n any r o s t e r week.

(h)	If by agreement or otherwise an employee is
r o s t e r e d i n any week o f t h e r o s t e r t o work
n o t more t h a n 2 4 o r d i n a r y hours , such hour s
s h a l l b e r o s t e r e d i n n o t more t h a n t h r e e
s h i f t s and i f he i s s o r o s t e r e d t o work n o t
more than 32 o rd ina ry hour s s h a l l be r o s t e r e d
i n n o t inore t h a n f o u r s h i f t s .
(i)	Except w i t h t h e consen t o f t h e Union o r
Unions where members a r e concerned, r o s t e r e d
o r d i n a r v hours s h a l l n o t exceed 48 i n anv
veek of t h e r o s t e r .

( j ) ( A l l r o s t e r s s h a l l be such a s t o a l low one c l e a r

day o f f i n each r o s t e r week and t o aggrega te

s i x days o f f i n each t h r e e week cyc l e . Employees

o f Schedule A respondents i n t h e classification of Sen io r D i r e c t o r (number l ) , D i r e c t o r Grade A

(number 3 ) , D i r e c t o r Grade B(number 11) , and

D i r e c t o r Grade C (number 1 9 ) s h a l l be a l lowed

one c l e a r day o f f i n each week and t o aggrega te

s i x days o f f i n each t h r e e week c y c l e , bu t l n

a l l o t h e r r e s p e c t s Clause 8 does n o t app ly t o

employees i n t h o s e classifications.

I n t h i s sub-c lause a clear day s h a l l mean:-

(i) s u b j e c t t o t h e p r o v l s i o n s o f sub-

paragraph (ili) h e r e o f , l n t h e c a s e

o f an employee whose l a s t p reced ing

s h i f t ended a t o r a f t e r 7 p.m. on any day,

n o t less than t h l r t y hours ;

(ii) S u b j e c t t o t h e p r o v l s i o n s of sub-

paragraph (lli) h e r e o f , i n t h e c a s e of

an employee whose l a s t preceding s h l f t

ended b e f o r e 7 p.m. on any day, n o t

less than t h i r t y - s i x hours ;

(iii) i n a l l c a s e s where two o r more days

o f f a r e g iven consecutively, t h e

second and subsequent days s h a l l comprise

twenty-four hours.

( k ) Where an employee's r o s t e r e d day o f f f a l l s

on a p u b l l c holiday, such employee s h a l l

be a l lowed an a d d i t i o n a l day o f f o r have

an a d d l t l o n a l day added t o h l s Annual Leave

or be p a i d an a d d i t i o n a l d a y ' s pay i n l i e u

t he reo f a s may be agreed between t h e employer

and t h e employee. "

Some g e n e r a l comments should be made wi th r e s p e c t t o some

o f t h e s e sub-c lauses , Under sub-clause (b ) t h e words

" c l e a r day" do n o t have t h e s p e c i a l meaning r e f e r r e d t o

i n sub-clause ( j ) b u t t h e t i m e i s t o be reckoned by

excluding both t h e day of p o s t i n g and t h e f i r s t day of t h e

r o s t e r . The f l r s t p r o v i s o t o sub-clause (b) a l lows a d e p a r t u r e

from a r o s t e r a t s h o r t n o t i c e i n c a s e s of emergency ove r

which t h e employer h a s no c o n t r o l . The second p r o v i s o i s

i n t h e n a t u r e o f a p e n a l t y imposed upon an employer who i s

r e q u i r e d t o pay over t lme r a t e s t o an employee working o r d l n a r y

hours du r ing h i s f i r s t s h i f t resulting from t h e change t h a t

f a l l s o u t s i d e h i s r o s t e r e d s h i f t a s o r d i n a r i l y r o s t e r e d .

Sub-clauses f g h and (i) a r e designed t o ensu re an

even sp read of o r d i n a r y hours and s h i f t s over a t h r e e week

p e r i o d wh i l e sub-clause ( j ) 1s designed t o ensu re c l e a r days

o f f a s de f ined . This sub-clause i s t o be r ead a s belng complementary

t o t h e o t h e r sub-clauses r e l a t l n g t o o r d l n a r y hours and s h i f t s .

Clause 9 is headed "SHIFT DUTY ALLOVJANCES"

and p rov ides f o r a d d i t i o n a l r a t e s t o b e p a l d f o r s h l f t s whlch

f i n i s h a f t e r 7 p.m. on any day o r a t o r be fo re 7 a.m. on any

day o r whlch begin b e f o r e 7 a.m. on any day. The c l a u s e prov ides

f o r additional r a t e s t o b e p a i d f o r e l l o r d i n a r y t lme worked

5.

I on r o s t e r e d s h i f t s between midnlght and 6 a.m. and f o r a l l

o r d i n a r y t i m e worked on a r o s t e r e d s h i f t a f t e r 10 hours from t h e

commencement o f t h a t s h l f t . The l a s t provision imposes a

p e n a l t y on an employer r e q u i r i n g broken s h i f t s where t h e meal

p e r i o d is extended, s e e Clause 7 ( a ) and Clause 15.

Clause 10 is headed "OVERTI~" and I

set o u t t h e r e l e v a n t sub-clauses:

"10, - OVERTIME --

(a)	A l l t ime worked by an employee i n excess
o f t h e o rd ina ry hours s h a l l be over t ime
and s h a l l be p a i d for as'follol:~.
C i ) A t t h e r a t e of t i m e and a h a l f

f o r t h e f i rs t two hours and double

t i m e t h e r e a f t e r ,	Monday	t o F r iday
i n c l u s i v e .

(ii) A t t h e r a t e of t i m e and t h r e e q u a r t e r s

f o r t h e f l r s t two hours and double

time t h e r e a f t e r , on Sa turdays .

( i i i )	A t t h e r a t e of	double t ime f o r
Sundays.

( i v ) A t t h e r a t e o f double t i m e and one

h a l f f o r p u b l i c h o l i d a y s ..."

A p r o v i s o t o sub-clause ( a ) makes s p e c i a l p r o v i s i o n w l t h

r e s p e c t t o employees c a l l e d back f o r t h e purpose o f working

over t ime on a Sa turday , Sunday o r a P u b l i c Hollday.

" (b)	I n computing ove r t ime each- d a y ' s work
s h a l l s t a n d a lone , p rov ided t h a t where
t h e over t ime commences on one day and
con t inues a f t e r midnlght w i t h o u t
i n t e r r u p t i o n o t h e r t han f o r meal b reaks
t h e over t ime s h a l l be p a l d a s having been
worked on a cont inuous b a s i s .

( C ) Except i n t h e ca se o f a change o f r o s t e r

o f which t h e employee h a s had 2 4 hours

n o t i c e , an employee who is r e q u l r e d t o work

on any day f o r which he i s r o s t e r e d o f f

du ty pu r suan t t o sub-clause (1) of Clause

8 of t h l s Award s h a l l be e n t i t l e d t o payment

a t t h e r a t e of double t i m e f o r a l l t ime

worked o r double t ime and one h a l f f o r

p u b l l c h o l i d a y s w i th	a	minlmum	Fayment	a s
f o r f o u r hours worked.

(d)	Except i n t h e ca se of over t lme worked i n
accordance wl th 1 0 ( c ) above, where an

6.

employee having completed h i s work and

having l e f t h i s p l a c e of work i s r e c a l l e d

f o r worlc n o t con t inuous , w i th h i s nex t

r o s t e r e d - s h i f t he s h a l l be p a i d f o r t h a t

c a l l two hours a t double t ime and i n

a d d i t i o n over t ime a t t h e r a t e of double

t ime f o r a l l t i m e worked on t h a t c a l l ...

Cf) An employee who does n o t r e c e i v e a c l e a r

day ( o r c l e a r days) o f f a s provided i n

c l a u s e 8 sub-clause (1) r o s t e r s s h a l l be

p a i d a t t h e r a t e o f double t ime £or a l l

o r d i n a r y t lme a c t u a l l y worked i n t h e nex t

r o s t e r e d s h i f t f o l l owing t h e r o s t e r e d day

( o r days] o f f .

(g ) When r eques t ed by t h e employer an employee

s h a l l work such over t ime a s i s necessary

t o m e e t t h e r ea sonab le needs	of	t h e
employer."

Some g e n e r a l comments should be made w i t h r e s p e c t t o some

o f t h e s e sub-clauses . Sub-clause ( a ) s p e c i f i e s t h e

g e n e r a l p e n a l t y r a t e s t o be p a i d t o employees working i n

excess o f t h e o r d i n a r y hours . Normally over t ime r a t e s a r e

w i t h r e s p e c t t o t h e hours i n any one day between mldnight and

midnight b u t sub-clause (b) a p p l i e s when an employee works

p a s t midnight. Sub-clause ( c ) is t o be c o n t r a s t e d w l t h

Clause 8 ( b ) . I n c a s e s o f an emergency, a r o s t e r may be

depa r t ed from and i n t h a t even t t h e second p r o v i s i o n t o Clause

8 ( b ) a p p l i e s t o impose a p e n a l t y on an employer i r r e s p e c t i v e

of work being done on a day o r day o f f . A f u r t h e r p e n a l t y is

imposed by Clause 1 0 ( c ) where an employee, on l e s s t h a n 24

hour s ' n o t i c e , i s r e q u i r e d t o worK on any day f o r which he was

r o s t e r e d o f f du ty . Under Clause 11 p e n a l t i e s , be ing i n t h e n a t u r e

o f e x t r a r a t e s , a r e n o t cumulat ive . Sub-clause (f) i s t h e

sub-clause w i th r e s p e c t t o which t h e interpretation i s sought .

F i n a l l y r e f e r e n c e is made t o

Clause 11 which p rov ides t h a t e x t r a r a t e s should be cumulat ive s o a s

not t o exceed a s p e c i f l e d maximum amount and Clause 12 pro-gjdes

f o r a d d i t i o n a l s p e c i a l r a t e s t o be p a i d t o employees working

o rd ina ry hours on s h ~ f t s a t weekends.

Clause 1 0 ( f ) r e f e r s t o "a c l e a r

day ( o r c l e a r days) o f f a s provided i n c l a u s e 8 ( j ) r o s t e r s . "

The word " r o s t e r s L r e f e r s t o t h e heading t o Clause 8. The

p rov i s ion f o r a c l e a r day ( o r c l e a r days) o f f must be

con ta ined i n t h e r o s t e r p repared arid pos t ed pu r suan t t o Clause 8.

The provision f o r c l e a r days o f f i s complementary t o t h e

provisions i n Clause 8 ensu r ing an even sp read o f o rd ina ry

hours of work and s h i f t s over a t h r e e weeks' pe r iod . Clause

1 0 ( f ) i s designed t o ensu re t h a t an employee a c t u a l l y r e c e i v e s

t h e c l e a r day o r c l e a r days o f f a s appear lng i n t h e r o s t e r .

An employee should n o t b e r e q u l r e d t o work on such a day

o r days . The words i n c l a u s e 10 ( f ) " n e x t r o s t e r e d s h l f t

fo l lowing t h e r o s t e r e d day ( o r days) o f f " make it c l e a r t h a t

t h o s e days do appear i n t h e r o s t e r whlch h a s been pos t ed

e i t h e r w i t h o r wi thout t h e r e q u i r e d n o t l c e . An employee

is r e q u i r e d t o work over t ime , Clause 1 0 ( g ) b u t t h e

t o t a l of e x t r a r a t e s payable t o an employee under Clause 8

and Clause 10 , a p a r t from Clause 10 (f) , may be l i m i t e d by

Clause 11. Clause 1 0 ( f ) r e q u i r e s t h e e x t r a r a t e t o be

p a i d w i t h r e s p e c t t o t h e o r d i n a r y t lme worked i n t h e nex t

r o s t e r e d s h i f t . S u b j e c t t o any s h i f t du ty a l lowances , Clause

9 , and weekend s h i f t work, Clause 12 , t h e e x t r a r a t e s payable

under Clause 10 ( f ) are n o t t o be t aken i n t o account w l t h

o t h e r e x t r a r a t e s payable w l t h r e s p e c t t o t i m e worked on

t h e r o s t e r e d day o r days o f f and t h e r e f o r e a r e n o t s u b j e c t

t o t h e l i m i t a t i o n con ta lned i n Clause 11. A s a r e s u l t , where

an employee does n o t a c t u a l l y r e c e i v e t h e c l e a r d a y ( o r days)

o f f a s provided i n t h e r o s t e r and c a l c u l a t e d accord ing t o

Clause 8 ( j ) , t h e employer i n c u r s a g r e a t e r pecunia ry p e n a l t y wh i l e

t h e employee r e c e i v e s a g r e a t e r pecunia ry b e n e f l t . Clause

8 ( b ) i s expressed i n a s i m i l a r way i n t h a t t h e e x t r a r a t e s

t he reunde r a r e p a l d w i t h r e s p e c t t o t h e o r d l n a r y t i m e worked

du r ing t h e f i r s t s h i f t r e s u l t i n g from ; change of r o s t e r ,

a g a i n t he reby minimising any l i m i t l n g e f f e c t a r i s i n g under

Clause 11. I t fo l lows t h a t i n app ly lng Clause 1 0 ( f ) , it

does n o t m a t t e r whether t h e employee f a i l s t o r e c e i v e t h e

c l e a r day ( o r days) o f f because he works over t imc a t t h e

f i n i s h o f t h e s h i f t p r l o r t o t h e r o s t e r e d day o f f o r p r i o r

t o t h e commencement of t h e s h i f t f o l l owing a r o s t e r e d day o f f .

Sen io r Counsel f o r t h e a p p e l l a n t s submi t ted

t h a t anomalous r e s u l t s would fo l low such an i n t e r p r e t a t i o n .

That may be s o , b u t t h a t does n o t d e t r a c t from t h e p o l i c y

of Clause 1 0 ( f ) which i s t o ensu re t h a t an employee

r e c e i v e s t h e b e n e f i t o f t h e r o s t e r e d day o f f . The Award is

designed t o ach ieve a particular purpose and i f t h a t purpose

is n o t ac :~ ieved , t h e employer must s u f f e r t h e financial

8.

consequences. Incidentally, the employee galns a financial

benef lt .

Senior Counsel for the appellants subrmtted

further that Clause 10(f) applied where an employee does not

recelve a clear day or days off in his roster. This submission

is rejected since the very v~ords of Clause 10(f) following

the rostered day or days offn show that the roster must have

included that day or days off. Clause lO(f) operates when for

any reason an employee does not, in fact, receive the benefit

of that day or days off.

Accordingly, I would dismlss the appeal

but vary the order to read as follows:

"That on the true meaning and interpretation

of the Television Industry Award 1977:

'An employee who does not recelve a

clear day (or clear days) off as

provided in clause 8(j) of the Award because

he performs work on a'cleaf- day which was

a rostered day off Irrespective of that

work being overtime at the flnish of the shift

prior to a rostered day off or prior to the

commencement of a shift following a rostered

day off, 1s entitled to payment at the rate

of double time for all ordinary time

actually ~iorlced in the next rostered shlft

following the rostered day (or days) off' ".