Gapes v Commercial Bank of Australia Ltd

[1979] FCA 19

C t

Jli T'l!\'. FJ3!>RI?ZlTA C'jT:!<T Oj" AOSI'!'.AICZP

__ _ -_~________________________ -

74 XWDUETXIATA P?VISIDtT V No. 3 4 of 1978.

_ _ _ _ _ _ . _ _ _ _ _ - I .

ROBERT LESLIE GAPES Claimant

_ ,-

- - - -

and

I n d u s t r i a l Lcu - breach of Award : f a i l u r e t o pay

for work	done - r e s t r i c t i v e work ban - r e f u s a l by
employee	t o perform a l l d u t i e s - l e g a l r e l a t i o n s

between enp loye r and employee - c o n t r a c t of

emp l o y i x ~ n t and award - i jhether einployee ready

w i l l i n g and a S l e - a c t u a l performance of work -

v a r i a t i o n of c o n t r a c t of employment - acquiesccnce

- Aiiard eil';itleli?ent t o s a l a r y - deduc t ions -

"absen t from d u t y " - onus of p r o o f .

C o n c i l i a t i o n _ _ ___ _ _ a n d A r b i t r n t i o n - _ - - Act 1 9 0 4 S e c t i o n 119 -

Bank O Z f i c i a l s ( F e d e r a l ) (1963) Award.

IN THE FJ:L)XR.?L COURT OFF- AIISIPIj-ATJIA

, * . - , -- ----91c-T-..-.--.,--7-.--

V No. 34 oE 1978.

INDUST'RIAT, DIVISTON

_- - - -cs - r? lc - -~

B E T W E E N :

Claimant

and

___I ORDER

JUDGE FIAKING ORDER:	Northrop J,
DATE OF ORDER:	13th March, 1379

WEERE	Y m E :	Melbourne
ORDER:	Application dismissed.

2.

o f t h e A w a r d . . . " f a i l e d t o re imburse or pay t h e Claimant

. f o r t h e work done by him du r ing and i n t h e c o u r s e of.

h i s employmc?nt w i th" t h e respondent on t h e t h r e e days

a l r e a d y mentioned.

1 A d i s p u t e e x i s t e d between t h e A.B.E.U. and

t h e respondent r e l a t i n g t o bank h o l i d a y s . In the

Melbourne m e t r o p o l i t a n a r e a o f f i c e r s employed by t h e

respondent had t h e b e n e f i t of a p a i d h o l i d a y on Elelbourne

Show Day. I n some coun t ry a r e a s , o f f i c e r s o f t h e

respondent had t h e b e n e f i t of a p a i d h o l i d a y c o i n c i d i n g

w i t h a l o c a l show day, wh i l e i n o t h e r coun t ry a r e a s o f f i c e r s

empl-oyed by t h e respondent d i d n o t have a n e q u i v a l e n t

h o l i d a y . The A.B.E . U . i n i t i a t e d a campaign s e e k i n g equa l

leave f o r . a l l bank o f f i c e r s th roughout V i c t o r i a . Off l c e r s

employed a t t h e B a i r n s d a l e branch of t h e respondent d i d n o t

g e t a h o l i d a y on Melbourne Show Day i n September 1 9 7 8 bu t

the o f f i c e r s employed a t t h a t branch i n c l u d i n g t11e c l a iman t

d i d n o t work on Melbourne Show Day. They d i d n o t r e c e i v e

payment of s a l a r y f o r t h a t day. Subsequent ly t h e A.B.E.U.

dec ided t o impose a r e s t r i c t i v e work ben t o be c a r r i e d o u t

by i ts members. The n a t u r e of t h e ban is b e s t i l l u s t r a t e d

b y s e t t i n g o u t t h e t e x t o f a c i r c u l a r i s s u e d by t h e

V i c t o r i a n Div i s ion of t h e A.B .E .U . and d a t e d 23 October

1 9 7 8 , a s fo l lows :

"EQUAL HOLIDAYS CAEPAIGN

.- -- -. .

Branches w i l l i ~ o t e from t h e A.B.E.U./C.B.O.A.

J o i n t Committee c i r c u l a r (23 /10 /78) t h a t t h e

J o i n t CO-mvittee h a s decided t o a u t h o r i s e t h e

a p p l i c a t i o n of	work	bans	as zn e s c a l a t i o n of	t h i s
campaign.

A d d i t i o n a l l y , each m e m b e r Union may apply such

a d d i t i o n a l bans as it t h i n k s neces sa ry .

This d e c i s i o n was reached a f t e r r e c e i v i n g over-

w h e l m i n g	suppork	from me~lbcrs for	t h i s l i n e of
a c t i o n .

Country members of A.B.E.U. are t h e r e f o r e

instruc Led t o : -

FROM WEDNESDAY 25th OCTOBER 1 3 7 8 -- .---

-

-- - -

7

c ; A , L , ! I :J ,,;,*-.> LL,.>J c -, L);' f41,1>

/ ?k1i.iiImAL I&?I'UIWS. - 1

BAN ALL COLLECTION O F BANK FEES AND

CIlARGES .

_ _ C _ _ _ -___ -l . --C-----

. It has been t h e p r a c t i c e of Ranks i n p r e v i o u s

a c t i o n s of t h i s n a t u r e t o r e q u e s t b r ~ ~ n c h e s

t o a d v i s e who i s observ ing t h e ban, and who

is n o t .

PLEASE BE AVJARE TFIAT THIS ALSO IS

A KETURN 241D SHOULD NOT BE SUBMITTED.

The aim of t h i s campaign i s now t o o b t a i n

e q u a l l e a v e f o r a l l Bank en~p loyees on whatever

b a s i s p o s s i b l e . "

Act ing pu r suan t t o t h e i n s t r u c t i o n s c o n t a i n e d

i n t h e c i r c u l a r , the c l a iman t , t o g e t h e r w i t h o t h e r o f f i c e r s

employed a t t h e E a i r n s d a l e branch of t h e respondent ,

applied t h e ban on Thursday 26 October, F r i d a y 27 October

and f4onday '30 October. On Mond-ly 30 October a c i r c u l a r

l e t t e r d a t e d 2 7 October f r o m t h e Respondent ' s State t$anayer ,

t o g e t h e r w i t h an a t tachment t o t h e l e t t e r , was r e c e i v e d

a t t h e ~ a i r n s d a l e b ranch , The c l a i ~ n a n t saw and r e a d this

c i r c u l a r l e t t e r and a t tachmcnt . The c i r c u l a r l e t t e r

r e f e r r e d t o t h e e q u a l l eave campaign be ing conducted by

t h e A. B .E . IJ. and t h e Co.m.on~:calth Bank O f f i c e r s A s s o c i a t i o n

and t h e te rms of t h e c o n t r a c t of employment which had been

e n t e r e d . i n t o between t h e respondent and i t s o 2 f i c e r s .

Inc luded i n t h e c i r c u l a r l e t t e r w e r e t h e f o l l o w i n g paragraphs :

"Staff a r e reminded t h a t i n t e r m s of t h e i r

c o n t r a c t of employment t h e y are o b l i g e d t o

c a r r y o u t such duties as are a l l o t t e d t o them.

Those who r e f u s e t o do so a r e n o t e n t i t l e d t o

be pa id f o r t h e day i n q u e s t i o n o r until such

time a s t h e y a r e prepared t o perform a l l d u t i e s

as	r eques t ed .
I f	a f t e r hav ing g iven t h e i s s u e f u l l c o n s i d e r a t i o n

s t a f f o p t t o coniply w i t h thc Union d i r e c t i v e ,

t h e consequences o f r e f u s a l t o carry o u t l a w f u l

\	o b l i g a t i o n s t o t h e employer m u s t be	accep ted .
'	I n t h i s r e g a r d ;

- staff arc n o t e n t i t l e d t o be paid f o r

- any p e r i o d of time they are not prepared

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

- s a l a r y ad jus tments arc t o be manually c a l c u l a t e d

and s a l a r y s l i p s zrn,>rd~d nccord inq l y.

. .

.'.

;. , 1 ,; . t t . r; ,-,: 1: @;~-,p I,( . . -- - -. . . - . - -

s u b ; n i ~ ~ i - t ; ~ at .';,:,c e;-ici . df t : l i : ~ 5 ~ 2 ; ( i . e . Friday)

i n o r d c r t h a t (:roup cr-.rt.j Eicat-e records may

be corresponcliny ly ad . j u s t ed" .

The procedures t o be fol lowed i n r e l a t i o n t o i n d u s t r i a l

a c t i o n by menillers o f s t a f f of the respondent were s e t o u t

. i n t h e a t tachmznt t o t h e l e t te r . The a t tachm2nt had been

f i r s t circu1nt:cd some y e a r s previ-ously a t a time of t h e

implementat ion of ano the r i n d u s t r i a l campaign by t h e

A.B.E.U. E x t r a c t s from t h e a t tachment a r e set o u t a s

ws:

"REFUSAL BY STAFF TO -- PEKFOm4 ALL _ _ OR PART O F ___-

DUTIES AS A RBSULT O F IPI 'DIJSTRIAI A C T I G N

--- ---- - -

It i s recognised t h a t any i n d u s t r i a l a c t i o n w i l l

i n v o l v e many o f f i c e r s i n a c o n f l - i c t of l o y a l t y

and t h e fo l lowing i n s t r u c t i o n s should n o t be

i n t e r p r e t e d as nny form of c o e r c i o n on t h e Gank's

p a r t . The i n s t r u c t i o n s a r e i n t ended t o remind

s t a f f of t h e i r l eg21 ob l j -ga t ions a r i s i n g o u t o: t h e i r

c o n t r a c t of employment and of t h e Bank's p o s i t i o n , a s

employer, i n t h e event of i n d u s t r i a l a c t i o n .

S u b j e c t t o any o t h e r i n s t r u c t i o n s which nay be i s s u e d

by A d n i n i s t r a t i c n a t such a t i m e b u t having p n r t i c o l a r

i n mind d i f f i c u l t i e s of corrmunication which can then

e x i s t , t h e s e i n s t r u c t i o n s nmst he decmed t o t h e n

ope ra tu w i thou t f u r t h e r n o t i c e and any o f f i c e r n o t

obse rv ing them w i l l be regarded as n o t c a r r y i n g o u t a

l awfu l i n s t r u c t i o n of t h e Bank.

A l l o f f i c e r s a r e t h e r e £ o r e t o a c q u a i n t thernse3ves

w i t h t h e s e i n s t r u c t i o n s (ii:an2gers, Accountan ts and

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

ignorance w i l l n o t be an a c c e p t a b l e excuse.

1. O f f i c e r s a r e r e q u i r e d t o perform a l l t h e

d u t i e s noma l . i y a l l o t t e d t o them i n the cour se

of t h e i r d a i l y work and any o t h e r d u t i e s which

may be a l l o t t e d t o then1 i n which t h e y have

r e c e i v e d t r a i n i n g o r have hn(3 s u f f i c i e n t p r a c t i c a l .

expe r i ence t o e n a b l e them t o c a r r y o u t t h o s e d u t i e s .

2 . Should o f f i c e r s p a r t i c i p a t e i n i n d u s t r i a l a c t i o n

i n v o l v i n g absence froin work o r r e f u s a l t o per for i l

a l l o r any p o r t i o n of t h e d u t i e s a l l o t t e d t o them

.in t e rms of (1) above, t h e fo l lowing w i l l apply:-

O f f i c e r s must inform t h e i r Manager,

Departcieiltsl Head, O f f i c e r i n Charge

o r n e x t a v a i l a b l e s e n i o r o f c i c e r o f

t h e i r i n t e n t - i c n , o r e l e c t i o n , t o

p a r t - i c i p z t e i n i n d u s t r i a l a c t i o n

i n v o l v i n g absence from work/or r e f u s a l

t o perform a l l o r any p o r t i o n of t h e i r

a l l o t t . e d d u t i e s i n t e rms of (1) above.

(b) I n t l ~ c even t o f m y 14anagcr e l e c t i n g

t o p a r k i c i p a t e i n i n d u s t r i a l a c t i o n

i n v o l v i n g absence from work o r r e f u s a l

to c a r r y o u t his d u t i e z / r e s p o n s i b i l i t i c s ,

S t a t e Managers O f f i c e mus t he i n f ormzd

i m i t ~ c d i a t e l y	such d e c i s i o n	is t a k e n by	the
Managcr.

(c) O f f i c e r s . p a r t i c i p a t i n g i n t h e i n d u s t r i a l

a c t i o n a r e n o t p e r m i t t e d t o comncnce o r

recommence work u n t i l t h e y a g r e e t o perform

a l l of t h e d u t i e s a l l o t t e d t o them i n terms

of (1) above.

(d) Officers a r e r e q u i r e d t o observe s e c u r i t y

p r e c a u t i o n s by : -

i) handing o v e r a l l cash, negot iable

i n s t r u m e n t s , keys , c o n f i d e n t i a l rna t c r i a l

e tc . , under t h e i r cant-rol t o t h e Manager

o r n e x t m o s t s e n i o r o f f i c e r n o t

p a r t i c i p a t i n g i n i n d u s t r i a l a c t i o n , o r

i f this i s n o t p o s s i b l e ,

(ii) lock ing up a l l such i t ems under t h e i r

c o n t r o l , e n s u r i n g that t h e preniises are

secu red i n t h e normal way i f l a s t t o leave.

(e) O f f i c e r s who have r e f u s e d t o work o r a r e

r e f u s e d pe i -n i ss ion t o work o r comrrlence work

under c i r c u m s t t ~ n c e s o u t l i n e d abase, zre

r e q u i r e d t o r e c o r d t h e t ime of c e s s a t i o n of

duty i n t h e a p p r o p r i a t e r e c o r d s a n d i m r c d i a t e l y

l e a v e Clhe Ranlc 's premises . Under no circa:i-

s t a n c e s a r e any a t t e m p t s t o be made by any

o ther m e m b e r of t h e B a n k ' s staff t o f0rci1:~l.y

e ject o f f i c e r s who r e f u s e t o l e a v e t h e Bank's

premises .

Manayzr, o r i n h i s absence t h e n e x t a v a i l a b l e

most s e n i o r o f f i c e r , i s t o e n s u r e t h a t a iull

d i a r y r e c o r d i s rnade o f 2ny o f f i c e x - ' S

announcement t h a t he r e f u s e s t o perform, or any

o f f i c e r ' s e l e c t i o n n o t t o perform, all

a l l o t t e d d u t i e s . Also , t h e i n s t r u c t i o n s i s sued

t o t h a t o f f i c e r i n consecpence and t h e r e s u l t -

ing a c t i o n s of t h e o f f i c e r (e .g . r e fusa l t o

l e a v e the premises e tc . )	are t o he recordzd
t h e r e i n .

( g ) ShoulG o f f i c e r s , having r e f u s e d t o perform

all o r any p o r t i o n of t h e d u t i e s a l l o t t e z

t o them i n te rms of (1) above, and as a

r e s u l t having bccn r e f u s e d pe rmis s l an t o w o ~ k

o r cormnence worlc on any day , e lec t a t any l-

!:in- +,. ? - r C : . - * _u l7 3 they v j ? l h2

pc. , 1 L ; I :; ,-L, : -.~,rl on a;] d LC8iVJ,?IIcncC iiL,':Jr .: I-

t h a t t i m e .

(h) The Bar12: w i l l e x e r c i s e i t s r i g h t t o r e f u s e

6, '

t o pay rcrnunzrs t ion f o r t h e f u l l p e r i o d

d u r i n g which d u t i e s i n terrns	of	(1) above
are n o t perforned.

(i) I n a s s e s s i n g t h e appropr ia te deduc t ion fron

s a l a r y f o r t h e , pe r iod d e s c r i b e d in ( h ) above,

i n s t r u c t i o n s o u t l i n e d under "Payment o f

S a l a r i e s " a r e t o be fo l lowed.

3 , O f f i c e r s who con t inue t o perform p o r t i o n on ly o f

their d u t i e s o r i n o t h e r ways f a i l t o comply w i t h

any of t h e fo rego ing ? r o c e d u r e s / i n s t r u c t i o n s arc

informed t h a t such a c t i o n or d e f a u l t on t h e i r p a r t

i n n o w a y nega te s t h e Bank 's r i g h t s t o reEuse

permiss ion t o work and/or t o make t h e appropriate

deduc t ion from s a l a r y . " a

I t is n o t n e c e s s a r y t o set o u t t h e o t h e r m a t t e r s con ta ined

i n t h e a t tachment b u t t h e y i n c l u d e a method by which

salaries . w e r e t o be a d j u s t e d i n t h e even t o f i n d u s t r i a l

a c t i o n , absence from work and r e f u s a l t o perform any or

a11 or p o r t i o n of t h e d u t i e s a l l o t t e d t o an office:.

.On Monday 30 October a t a meet ing w i t h t h e

Manager o f t h e Ba i rnsda l e branch, t h e c l a iman t t o l d the

Manager t h a t he would con t inue t o app1.y t h e i n s t r u c t i o n s

con ta ined i n t h e A . 8 . E . U . c i r c u l a r . The Manager t s l d him

t h a t i n t h a t even t he would n o t be a l lowed t o work a t a l l .

That evening, upon r e q u e s t , t h e c l a iman t handed t o t h e

Manager h i s keys, t o t h e bank and t h e combination t o t h e bank

s a f e . The c l a i m a n t t o l d t h e Manager t h a t he intended t o

a t t e n d a t work on the fo l lowing day t o perform h i s normal

duties a p a r t from t h o s e s u b j e c t t o t h e ban. O n Tuesday 31

October t h e o z f i c e r s of t h e B s i r n s d a l e branch, o t h e r t h a u

t h e c l a i m a n t , performed a l l d u t i e s a l l o t t e d t o t h e n . The

c l a iman t a t t e n d e d f o r work a t his normal s t a r t i n g t i m e of

8.30 a . m . For t h e f i r s t h a l f hour he s a t a t h i s desk b u t

d i d n o t c a r r y o u t any of h i s normal d u t i e s . H e r e f u s e d t o

l e a q e t h e premises and main ta ined h i s a t t i t u d e o f r e f u s i l ~ y

t o perform t h o s e d u t i c s t h e s u b j e c t of t h e ban. A t a b o u t 9 a . l r

h e had 2 t e l ephone conve r sa t ion w i t h an o r f i c i a l of t h e

A . B . E . U . About the sarrle t i m e t h e &2anagcr of t h e branch

had a t e l ephone conve r sa t ion w i t h a person a t the o f f i c e

tbol,: p lace b:;tc.i.cen the cLa.j.xn~~!lt and 14allacjcr, the suI;i;-Lri;li,.-:

of which rc!duced 'cc! w r i t i i l g by t h c Manager and signed

t r u e r e p o r t o f

by the P'lanager and the c l a iman t a s beirrg a

t h e c o n v e r s a t i o n , The r e p o r t reads :

" 1 n t c r v i . e ~ 9 , O O -. 3 l . / l 0 / 7 C . Again d i s c u s s e d work

r equ i rernentu with Mr. W. Gapes who after f u r t h e r

' r e f e r e n c e t o union, r c fused .;;U leave t h e preni ises

as rcqucsked an6 de:n;indei! t o be allov:.jd t o wcrlc

i n tcrrils of A.R .E.U., bans. IIc was i n f o m ~ e d t h a t

h e may therefo3:c resume d u t i e s , b u t i n t e rms of

S/M/L 2 7 / 1 0 / 7 8 - S t a t e managers c i r c u . l a r l e t t e r

1 5 / 7 8 he t ~ o u l d not be e n t i t l e d to be p a i d a s from

now, f o x any p e r i o d of time he 1%7as n o t p repe red t o

ca r ry o u t h i s complete a l l o c a t e d d u t i e s i n f u l l ,

as r e q u i r e d by bank i n terms of his employn!ent."

The Manager t hen r e t u r n e d t o t h e c l a iman t h i s keys to

t h e bank b u t n o t the combination bo the sa fe . Apart

f r o m t h e d u t i e s t h e s u b j e c t of t h e bans, the c l a iman t

c a r r i e d o u t a l l h i s o t h c r d u t i e s on Tuesday 31 October , a n d

Weitzesday 1 NoventSer, b u t on t h e second day t h e combination

t o t h e safe w a s r e t u r n e d t o t h e c l a iman t .

On the evidencc t h e Cour t f i n d s t h a t t h e d u t i e s

n o t performed by t h e c la imant were s i g n i f i c a n t i n the

sense of n o t be ing t r i v i a l o r of no subs t ance .

O n t h e norning of Thursday 2 Novernber t h e

cl-aimant r e c e i v e d h i s pay cheque f o r the prev ious f o r t n i g h t .

ALthor-ryh he r e c e i v e d payinerit of s a l a r y f o r each of t h e

d a y s 2 6 , 27 a n d 30 October h e r e c e i v e d no pa-yment o f s a l a r y

or t h e days 31 October o r 1 November. O n receipt of his pay cheque t h e c l a iman t l e f t his desk and joerneycd t o Plclbouri?e

t o see t h e lawyer f o r t h e A.B.E.U. H e makes no compla in t

about the non payment of s a l a r y f o r t h a t day. On F r i d a y

3 Novcnber t h e c l a iman t a g a i n a t t e n d e d work and performed

a l l h i s normal d u t i e s except those s u b j e c t to the ban. On

tl:e fo l lowing Nonday t h e ban on work w a s l i f t e d a n d on t h a t

day and t h e r e a f t e r t h e c l a iman t p e r f o r n ~ e d all his a l l o t t e d

duties. On t h e fo l lowing pay day 21e d i d n o t r e c e i v e payment

of s a l a r y f o r Friday 3 November.

B y a memorandcm o f agreement e n t e r e d i n t o between

t h e cl-clirnant anri rcspondr-nt and d a t e d 1 2 October 1 9 7 1 t h e

c l a i r n a n t agreed t o perform a l l duties and tasks "which msy

devolve upon him or which any a u t h o r i s e d o f f i c e r may e n t r u s t

t o b j m o r r e q u e s t h i m to perform", The d u t i e s which t h e

1 ( - l . C '

* - i -c , 7 ,:I, 1. N o x , r ~ r ?-., , *'

3 November were w i t h i n thc range o k d u t i e s a l l o t t e d t o lli1-n

under t -he ~nzrnorzir~dum of agrecn~ent a n d w i t h i n t h e meaning

of t-he terms set o u t i n the att.achluent t o t h e c i r c u l a r

8.

'8.

l e t t e r dated 2 7 October 1 9 7 8 .

Pursuant to t h e p r o v i s i o n s of t h e A c t ,

t h e respondent i s bound t o pay s a l a r y t o the c l a iman t ,

t h e amount of t h e s a l a r y be ing ca l - cu l a t ed i n accordance

w i t h c l a u s e s G , 7 and 26 of t h e Award,. C l s u s e 12 of

t h e Award c o n t a i n s t h e fo l lowing p rov i s ions : -

"12. PAYMEIGT - O F SALARIES --

(a) A l l salaries and allovrances a t t a c h e d t h e r e t o

s h a l l be pciid weelrly o r f o r t n i g h t l y a t t h e

o p t i o n of a n d on t h e d a t e s most convenien t

t o t h e bank concerned.

...

(c) Hotwi ths tanding anyth ing e l sewhere c o n t a i n e d i n

t h i s award t h e bank concerned s h a l l be e n t i t l e d t o

make a deduc t ion from t h e s a l a r y o f an employee

i h r e s p e c t of every hour o r p a r t of an hour

t h a t such employee has been a b s e n t from du ty wi thout

t h e c o n s e n t of t h e bank du r ing t h e p e r i o d i n

r e s p e c t o f which the s a l a r y i s pa id . T h e

amount of such deduc t ion p e r hour ox- p a r t

t h e r e o f s h a l l be c a l c u l a t e d accor,ding t o t h e

fo l lowing formula:

Annual. S a l a r y -- - .- X 5 X l

)I

2 6 1 X l X 40

On these f a c t s t h e i s s u e r a i s e d by t h e s e

proceedings i s w h e t h e r t h e r e sponsen t committed a breac!~

of t h e Award i n t h a t it f a i l e d t o pay t o t h e c la i inan t

s a l a r y which under t h e ?iward it w a s bound t o pay.

S e n i o r Counsel for t h e c l a iman t submitted

t h a t i n t h e c i rcumstances t h e respondent was n o t e n t i t l e d

t o make any deduc t ion from t h e s a l a r y due t o t h e c l a i m a n t ,

t h a t the c l a iman t performed some of h i s d u t i e s i n accordance

wi th t h e Award du r ing t h e whole o f t h e t h r e e days , t h a t t h e

respond5nt , 11a.irilig p e r m i t t e d t h e c l a iman t t o perforin those

d u t i e s , had t h e b e n e f i t of t h e s e r v i c e s s o performed and

had acqu ie sced i n t h e czction l ~ y the c l a iman t and t h a t

t h e f a i l u r e t o pay him f o r the p ~ r f o r m a n c e of t h o s e d u t i e s

. S , , i : , 2 L: )-cl .

The existerice of a c o n t r a c t of e ~ p l o y m e n t i s

t h e b a s i s on which t h e Act, by means of an A w a r d , imposes

o b l i g a t i o n s upon an employer. The p o s i t i o n is s t a t e d

3.

3 .

clearly i n t h e j u d g m e n t s i n ~lrnalg~tnat-&d ---....-.W- C o l l i e r i e s .----- --- of W.A. ---. Ltd

v. - T r u e ( 1 9 3 7 ) 53 C.L.R. 417. I n t h a t case the H i 9 1 1 Court

had b e f o r e it a S t a t e A c t and t h e a p ? l i c a t i c n of an award

m a d e under t h e State A c t . The o p i n i o n s expressed b y t h e

J u s t i c e s o f t h e High Court apply wi th e q u a l f o r c e t o awards

made under the Commonv~:lealth ~ o n c i ' l i a t i o n and A r b i t r a t i o n Act.

Equa l ly , t h e adv ice of tb.e P r i v y Counci l tha t . a n a p p e a l from

t h e o r d e r made by t h e High Court should b e a l lowed ( T r u e v.

Amalgamated ---v-- C o L 1 . i e r i . e ~ p--of W.A. Ltd.. -- ?l9403 A.C. 537) does n o t

a f fec t t h e s t a t e m e n t s of p r i n c i p l e exp res sed in t h e High

C o u r t judgments. The C h i e f J u s t i c e of the High Court S i r

John L a t h a m s a i d a t p.423-424 -

"When	any pe r son i s employed t o do work t o
which	an a w a r d a p p l i e s , t h e p a r t i e s are hound

b y , a c ~ n t - r a c t . T h e i r l e g a l r e l a t i o n s a r e i n

p a r t de te rmined by t h e c o n t r a c t bctween them and

i n p a r t by t h e award. The award governs t h e i r

r e l a t i o n s as t o all m a t t e r s w i t h vjhich it d e a l s ...

But a n award never d e a l s w i t h a l l the m a t t e r s which

a f f e c t t h e r e l a t i o n s of any p a r t i c u l a r employer

and any p a r t i c u l a r ernp3.oyec. The c r e a t i o n o f the

r e l a t i o n o f employer and employee depends upon an

agreement between t h e m and not ups11 any award. Thus ,

t h e existence of t h e o b l i g e t i o n s under an av:ard i.n

r e l a t i o n t o a par t icular employer and employee always

depends on t h c e x i s t e n c e of a c o n t r a c t between them.

. So, also, t h e r e are t e r m s of t h c i r r e l a t i o i ~ s h i p v:hj-cl-,

do n o t depend npon any award, For example, t h e

employee must a l ~ ~ a y s obey t h e l awfa1 o r d e r s of his

employer, b u t awards do n o t - commonly i n c l u d e a

t e r m t o t h a t e f f e c t . I n my op$nion, however, it i s

unnecessary i n t h i s case t o work o u t i n detail t h e

b a s i s of t h e r e l a t i o n s c r e a t e d by employment under

an a w a r d . For t h e purposes of t h i s c a s e it i s

s u f f i c i e n t t o refer t o what was s a i d i n a

unanimous judgment of t h i s court i n Mall inson v.

Scottish A u s t r a l i a n Investment Co.	L t d .	(1930)
--W-

2 8 C.L.R. G6 a t p.73:

'Apar t from t h e Act ' (Tllc Commonwcalth C o n c i l i a t i o n

and A r b i t r a t i o n Act) ' t h e r i g h t t o r e c e i v e wages

\, sprang from t he e x i s t e n c c of t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p of

mas t e r and s e r v a n t and the performance of s e r v i c e s

t h e r e i n , and notwithstanding t h e A c t it i s s t i l l

the cx j st encc of this r e l a t i o n s h i 1 ) and the perf c \ r m - 1 7 ~ ~ r 1

of services therein which c o n f e r s on the employee t h e

r i g h t t o remunerat ion - a l l t h a t t h e Act has done i n

this rcspeut is t o substitute a n o t h e r method of

. d e t e r m i n i n g t h e amount oE remunera t ion" .

10,

At co1m.or; - l a w in a n a c t i o n by a n en!ployc.e f o r

dainoges for breach of h i s c o n t r a c t of einployment t h e

employee m u s k prove that he is ready , w i l l i n g and a b l e

t o perform h i s p a r t of t h e cont r n c t ; Aus t r a l i ..n N a t i o n a l

A i r l i n e s Conimiss~on -p-- v. Zobinson _ __- -_ _ 619773 V.R. 87. I n t h a t

case, an employee a i r l i n e p i l o t , i-n s u p p o r t of an

indus t . r i a1 campaign be ing conducted by the organi . sa t ion

of which he was a m e m b e r , w a s prepa red t o perform h i s d l l t i e s

under h i s c o n t r a c t o f empl.oyrnent on c o n d i t i o n t h a t i f t h e

e x e c u t i v e of hj.s o r g a n i s a t i o n c a l l e d a s toppage of up t o

twenty-four hours1 d u r a t i o n within t h e n e x t seven days ,

he would n o t perform h i s d u t i e s du r ing t h e p e r i o d s p e c i f i e d

by t h e e x e c u t i v e . The employir r e f u s e d t o al.10~1 t h e p i l o t

t o perform h i s f u l l d u t i e s on t h i s c o n d i t i o n and no o t h e r

worl-.:-was. p rov ided . The p i l o - t r e c e i v e d no pay f o r the

p e r i o d no worl: w a s p rov ided , and h e b rought an a c t i o n

c la iming t h a t t h e employer wrongfu l ly and i n breach of his

c o n t r a c t of unploynent f a i l e d t o p rov ide empl.oy;uent for hilt1

and c la iming damages f o r b reach o f c o n t l a c t . The F u l l C c u r t

of t h e Supreme Court of V i c t o r i a (Young C . J . , Menhennit t

and G r i f f i t h JJ.) h e i d t h a t t h e p i l o t s i iould n o t be regard<-,3

as having r e p u d i a t e d h i s c o n t r a c t of employment and t h a t i n

any e v e n t the employer d i d n o t r e g a r d t h e c o n t r a c t as be jng

d i scha rged . The Court held t h a t i n o r d e r t o succeed

the p i lo t . had t o prove t h a t h e was ready, w i l l i n g and able

t o perform h i s c o n t r a c t of employment. I n a j o i n t judgment

t h e Court	s a i d a t p.91:
"1n any a c t i o n f o r b reach of c o n t r a c t

a plaintiff must prove t h a t he i s ready,

w i l l i n g and a b l e t o perform h i s p a r t of

t h e b a r g a i n and an a l l e g a t i o n t o t h a t e f f e c t

used t o be pleaded: s e e J e f f e r s o n - v. - Paskell 1

C19163 1 . K . B . 5 7 a t p.74 , o w W 7 such a

pl.cading o r avermcni; i s t o be impl ied : see

R.S .C . ,o . lS , r . l 4 , and -- Gates v. - - . . - J acobs , C19207

1 Ch. 5 6 7 . T h e e f f e c t of t h e r u l e IS t h ~ t t h e

defc~dar* , i f lie contends t h a t t h e p l a i n t i f f

was n o t r eady , willing o r a b l e t o perfol-~n h i s

p a r t of t h e contract, nlust, a s was done i n

t h i s c a s e , se t o u t such a l l e g a t i o n i n h i s

p l e a d i n g . Otherwise it w i l l be assumed t h a t

the plaintiff i s , - r eady , w i l l i n g and a b l e t o

7	5	, : ( ) l	(	'	1	, . c ,	F;l-i	L: ]< :Y~	;i	cli::-l!c7r?	7
1 ;

c , I . , J 1 - , ?icat!~,:g c: c ; r ~ ) : ~ t ; i c > i ~ i i : ~ ~ L _ t l L

the ~ J ~ t i n t i f f i n ail a c t i o n f o r breach of contraci:

was xt?~ldq' o~: t: l l l i ~ l c j tc; perfori.: t h e c o n t r a c t ,

t h e burdcn of p rov ing r e a d i n e s s and w i l l i n g n e s s

res ts upon t h e p l a i n t i f f . "

11  0 '

The C o u r t foulid t l l a t t h e p i l o t had f a i l e d t o

p r o v e t h a t h e was rehdy and w i l l i n g t o p e r f o i m h i s c o n t r a c t

of emp'.oymel~t and t h u s h e was n o t e n t i t l c d t o damages.

At p. 92 t h e C o u r t said:

"The q u e s t i o n whether a p a r t i c u l a r emplo!'~cc

i s ready and w i l l i - n g t o p e r f o r m h i s c o n t r a c t

w i l l o f t e n i n v o l v e a qnes.tion o f degree.

I f a n employee , on p r e s a l t i n y h i n ~ s c i f f o r

work a t his place of enp loyment , i n d i c a t e s t o

his employer by his worcis or a c t i o n s that he

i s o n l y w i l l i n g t o perforrr: his d u t i e s u n d e r

his c e n t x a c t of c:nploynient i f a n o t h e r t e r n 1 is ,

i n e f f , e c t , adiled t o t h e c o n t r a c t and t h a t t e r m i s

a s i g n i f i c a n t o n r , there wou1.d. bc l i t t l e d i f f i c u l t y

i n reaching a c o n c l u s i o n t h a t t h e employee was n o t

ready and w i l l S . n c j t o perfor in h i s o b l i g a t i o n s u n d e r

t h e e x i r;ti.ncj c o n t r a c t of e~uployment , I f , on t h e

other hand, a n ei~~pl.oyee w?re t o tell his employer that

t h e , t r a d e u n i o n .to ~ ; h i c h he b e l o n g e d w a s i n t e n s i n g

t o s t r i k e on a date, say , two months h e n c e , it

would b- irnpossibl.e, w e s h o u l d t h i ~ l l i , t o c o n c l u d e fro:a

t h a t s t n t e m e n t a l o n e that t h e employee was

n o t a t t h e t i m e of t h e mal;i.ng of t h e statement r e a d y

a n d w i l l i n g t o perforrn h i s o b l i g a t i o n s u n d e r t h e

c o n t r a c t . Between t h e s e t ~ z ~ o ~ X . ' ; ~ ~ T I I E S t h e r e i s

clearly room f o r a w i d e v a r i e t y o f c a s e s . The

d e c i s i o n i n a g iven case mustdepend upon a l l t h e

c i rcumstances, including t h e nature of t h e e r n p l ~ - ~ e n L

and t h e t e r m s of t h e c o n t r a c t o f e n p l o y n e n t . "

A t pp. 93-94 t h e C o u r t s a i d :

" I n t h e s e c i r c m s t a n c e s t h e p l - a i n t i f f f a i l e d

t o shot: in o v r c p i n i o n t h a t h e was rccdy and

w i l l i n g t o pe r fo rm his c o n t r a c t on S a t u r d a y

2 3 November 1973 . I t i s n o t d e c i s i v e t h a t

no s t r i k e had by then beer1 c z l l . e d . 'The

p l a i n t i f f was, i n e f f e c t , i n d i c a t i n g t h a t h e was

o n l y ready and w i l l i n g t o perform h i s c o n t r a c t

i f a new term were added e n a b l i n g 11S.n t o s t o p

wo'rk f o r up t o t w e n t y - f o u r hours i f i n s t r u c t e d

by the Executive of t h e F e d e r a t i o n t o do so. . .

A c c o r d i n g l y , w e think tha t . the plaintiff's c l a i m

s h o u l d fail.".

I n t h e p resen t . case no p a r t y sugges t ed

* t h a t t h e c o n t r a c t o f employment. between the c l a i m a n t and

t h e respo:?di.nt had been dischar.,icd, by r e p u d i a t i o n or

o t h e r w i s e . T h e c l a i m a n t is n o t seeking damages for b r e a c h

of h i s c o n t r a c t of employment . What is alleged is a

_ 1 .

7 . l- ' \ ' . . d - ,

< ;:; +>.?;,<,! 7:~;: ~ 2 - < ! ,l,. ,-l . !

1 - . \ - . . . - . . a , - . j , ;an-t -F':::.:

war]; dc;fie .in tll:.: c:o\:!:se 0;. l l j :, c.!:;;loyn;@nt * 1J.n A u s t r a !. :! ..--

. .

P? at: i ~ ? i - ~ L : .? ?:.j.' 1. l : i l l S Ci?l:i!li 3 C: :; j G i l . !?3b:ii:..;c\g s u p r a , -the Cour t

\F.-- --.---.. ----p- ..-.I.-" --

12.

sa id at p , 96;

I .    l! If, however, we had been of t h e oj?inion

t h a t the rc:i;pond.?nt had e s t a b l i s h e d r e n d i n e s s

- and wil l inyncs5: t o perform t h e c o n t r a c t , it

woul-d have been n e c e s s e r y f o r u s t o consid-er the

darnzgcs to which h e w o u l d have b e e n e n t i t l e d .

I t seems t o have been assunied i n t h e Court bclow

t -ha t the darnayes w e r e e q u i v a l e n t t o t h e arriour~t

of the sa l a ry or wages l o s t . T h i s may very w e l l

have been c o r r e c t b u t it shou ld hc no ted t h a t

t h e action w a s n o t an a c t i c n for s a l a r y o r wages.

I f it had been it would have been nece!+sary

t o c o n s i d e r t h e terns of t h e c o n t r a c t of employment

i n order t o a s c e r t a i n v:kether t h e c o n s i d e r a t i o n

f o r , t h e payment of the s a l a r y o r wagFs w a s

t h e actual- pe r fo rmace of the work o r t h e

mere r e a d i n e s s and w i l l i n g n e s s t o do so: (see

Autornz-tic F i re S p r i n k l e x : . ~ P t y . L t d . v. Watson

- - -__._-XI___-I_. ^ -.-- --.

(1946) 72 C . L . 3 . 435, e s p ~ c i a l l > 7 per Latham C . J .

a t pp.450-2, pex S t a r k e J', a t pp.4G1-2 and pzr

Dixon J. a t pp.463-6".

.In t h e p r e s e n t case, it i s n o t n e c e s s a r y t o decide t h e

q u e s t i o n t h u s left unanswered s ince on any view, t h e c l a i m a n t

was not ready and w i l l i n g t o perform a l l h i s normal d u t i e s

and i n f a c t d i d n o t perform a11 h i s normal duCj.es. N e ~ e r t h c i . ? . ; . : ; ~

t h e n a t u r e of t h e problems invo lvcd In t h e qces t ion can bc

i l l u s t r a t e d by a reference t o sorn:: of t h e passages i.11 t h e

judgment of Dixon J , as he t h e n w a s , i n ' . A u t o n a t i c --- F i r e --

S p r i n k l e r s	P ty .	~ t d .	v.	a t s o n , sup ra .	At pp. 463-464	1-:is Honoun
said:

" I n c e r t a i n forms of execu to ry c o n t r a c t

where t h e promise o f one p a r t y is t o pay

t h e other n i o n ~ y i i l con:;icici-atlon oi his

t r a n s f e r r i n g p r o p e r t y , of h i s doing work,

of h i s s e r v i n g t h e former as hias master,

and, pc rhzps , of h i s pzoviclincj other

t a n g i b l e things o r dcf i n i t e s e r v i ces, t h e

money t o be p a i d is regarded as t h e price

of o r revard f o r the p r o p e r t y o r service

when and so o f t e n as t h e t r a n s f e r of the one

o r the p e r f o r m a c e of t h e o t h e r a f f o r d s an

executed c o n s i d e r a t i a n . I n thcsc c o n t r a c t s

\	the prornise t o pay t h e price o r reward i s
n o t co~lstruec': a s a sirnple o b i i q a t i o n t o pc:jr
a sum us sums at C : f u t u c c c h t r s u ~ p o r t e 6 s o i c i y
by z cons iCkrar ion c o n c i s t i n g i n the
cor responding p r ~ r o i s e to transfer the p r o y ~ e r t y ,
do t h e wor l - , , s.?rvc, o r p r o v i d s the th i i lqs o r
se r~icc .~<; b17 t l l , : c : r : l c i ? - p a r t y , SO that a m e r e
1.f < 01:f: : ' "
k l i < \ - , . t - < , i , L - * , - ;,< - 3 ., C ~ J O L \ ~ ~ - L
c n t i - t 2 c llin t o the I )ayn len t s , ~ z o t w i . t h s t d n d l n g ' i h ~ l ; ,
wf~e t .h~~i . ov;i nij ..-o i-!,L i - , , c i i t c12 tne f o rscr , or
without. f a u i t on e i t l i ~ r s i d e , the p ~ o p c r t y i s
n o t t r ans fc r rc r ; t h e work is r iot done, the

13.

r e l a t i o n gf nastcr z.nd s e r v z n t c e a s e s ,

o r t h e t h i n g s o r s c r v i c e s a re n o t piovidc2d."

A t p. 465 i l j s Iioiiour s a i d :

"A c i . n t r a c t for the e s t n b j s h m c n t oi t h e

r e l a t i o n of m'rsicr .and s r r v a n t f n l . 1 ~ i n t o

t h e same g e n e - - 1 ca t eyo ry o f agree~i lents t o

pay i n r e s p e c t of t h e c c n s i d e r a t i o n when

and so oSten 2 s iIT. i s c::ecuted, ancl i s ,

they c [ore, coeiiionly undcr:;tsod as i n v o l v i n g no

l i a b i l i t y for w h y c n o r s a l a r y unl -ess

ea rned by s f rv ice , cven though the f a i l u r e

t o se rve i s a consequence of t h e m a s t e r ' s

wrongful a c t ,

I t - - i s . of cou r se , p o s s i b l e f o r t h e p a r t i e s

,

t o rna1;c a c o n t r a c t f o r t h e payment of

pe r iud? . cn l r;~tm.; h17 t h e m a s t e r t o the serva i l t

i ndep rndzn t ly o f h i s s e r v i c e . Indeed t h a t

i s , i n e f f e c t , %bat t h e Duke of iqes tminster

persu;ided ths nii l jori ty or' t h e Honse of .Lords

he h26 done i n Tnlnnd Revenue Commj-ssionrrs -- - 1 - 1

.._ _.____I__^.___C_.__.._ ...-__.-.. - -_

v. ___ D u k e of West.minster ( i 9 3 6 j A . C . 1 . But t o

s ay the l e a i ' i , i t i s not n s u a l . The comrnori

unde r r t and ing of a c o n t r a c t of elcploymcnt

a t wagcs or s n l z r y p e r i o d i c a l l y p2yzhl.e

i s t h a t it i s tl-,c s e r v i c e that e a r n s t h e

remunel-at ion ancl cven a v~roncjful disclizryc

from t h e service means t h a t wages o r s a l a r y

cannot hc enrnc3 however ready and c i l - l i n g

the employee m=1y h e t o s e r v e and ho;.:ever

much he stuncl hy h i s contrckct and dcciine

t o t r e a t it as dj.ccharged by breach . "

A t p. 4 6 6 His Honour s a i d :

"Some difficulty has been f e l t i n s zy ing b ~ h a t

i s t h e s e r v i c e which c a r r i c s wagcs , The

wages are i n c i d e n t t o t h e s u b s i s t i n g

re1a t ionsh i .p oL' mas te r and s e r v a n t . A mas t e r

who sends h i s ::r,j:v;lnt upDn a hcl-i.day qon.

full pay can he sued f o r wages under t h e

c o n t r a r t , al t l iozgh n o t on a coiraxon count f o r

work end. laboar done. Thcy a l s o s e r v e who on j - j

s t a n d a n d w a i t . D i f f i . cu l t i e s , t o o , a r i se from

t h e f a c t t h a t a r e f u s a l t o work on t h e p a r t

of a s e r v a n t , who n e i t h e r l e a v e s his master's

servicc: nor i s dj-scharged, ;ray d i s e n t i t i e him

t o wages f o r tl:a period d t h e r e f u s a l . T h s t

is f o r non-ful f j l i~ i en t of t h e c0ndj.t i o n s by

which vaqes o r e ecirned. B u t ; b road ly speakin.9,

it i s enough L o say t h a t aoges a.re f o r S C ~ V ~ - C -

r rasor: i . j~ly dciii<i:,di?6 unicr a subsis Ling

re]-sticnsh:;.p SE master and scrvant. That

r e l a t i o n s h i p Iuay be ended by the s e r v a n t

forsaj:i.ncj i:Re r?:;ter o r tile rnaster d i s c h a r i ; i i ~ g

t h e s e rv i ln t , a l t f l o i ~ g h the a c t of t h e one o r 1 ,

.

. ,

, : ... . - r q l - : , @ f (-:C !-:.:. 'T ::. '.

(? f ;-.. ;-A,2 c::- :- ,-

.

If the L - on beii-.g inforiaed by

the claini;i;!t Lhai- lie il(.>(; pcrforn: all h i s d u t i e s

14.

t o him, h n d ' r e f u s e d t o a l l o e him pcrforli i any o f h i s

nol-~1lal d u t i e s and provided no a-Lker work for him, it

is pcssible that the c l n j m a n t would have f a i l e d to

prove t h a t he was ready and w i l l i n g t o p e r f o r m h i s

c o n t r a c t of employnen t , The ac. tachment t o the

c i . s c u l a r letter appears t o be d i r e c t e d t o t h a t i s s u e ,

Ir, f a c t , t h e c l a i ~ a n t did p c x f o i ~ i some o f h i s d v k i e s b u t

r e f u s e d t o p e r f o r m a l l the d u t i c s l a w f u l - l y a l l o t t e d t o

h i m . I n t h e p r e s e n t caser it i s i m a t c r i 8 1 whether

t h i s r e fusa l and his c o n s e q u e l ~ t f a i l u r e t o perfor111 a l l

d u t i c s a l l o t t e d t o him s h o u l d he c;tego:cised a s n o t

being r e a d y and w i l l i n g t o p c r f o ~ m t h e c o n t r a c t of

ernploj~~cnt	or as n o t amount ing $0 actual performance of
the work,

I n The E l e c t r i c i t y Covnissjon o f l?ew

f-,I-C------I-.-- -'------I-- v---

\Sou th W a l ~ s v. T h e P ~ d : ~ r a t c d E n ~ i n e D r ;vezs 2nd F i r e i C ~ e n 1 s

-- IT--- - ---.-----'-------------* --.p-

A s s o c i a t i o n of F u s t r a l a s i a . ( N . S . i.?. ) ' re: Srr ic l~- inpn the

-----*. r--- -. -=- -- ---C- --___-__ ----- --

I n d u s t r i a l c a m n i s s i o n of N ,S , W , i n C o u r t S e s s i o n (McKeon,

C a h i l l a n d Dey JJ , ) had t o consider a case where an

employee r e z u s e d to c a r r y o u t z lawful . o r d e r given by h i s

employer on thc g r o u n d t h a t t h e Z u t i e s ordered t o be

pe r fo rmed came w i t h i n a works ban imposed by h i s un ion .

The employee s t a t e d t h a t he w a s a v a i l a b l e f o r a l l o t h e r

d u t i e s , H e remained a t his work place but v : ~ s not

p r o v i d e d with work, A t p , 1 7 of t h e reasons f o r judginent

da ted 2 July 1975 but n o t y e t r e p c r t e d , t h e Cour t saLd:

"What t h e n were, in o u r opSnion , the l e q a l

conseyucnccs of the iccident u n d e r r c v i c t ~ ?

Cases abocnd i n th is Clo-?r?lissio:~ and else~,:;~es.-

wh ich state c a t e g ~ r i c ~ ~ l l y thzt i n order t o bc

e n t i t l e d t o pakrincl~t of t h e wage w h i c h t h e l;erIl:s cf

h i s employnient p r e s c l i b c , an employee rnust be

r e a d y and w i l l i n g and a b l e t o p e r f o r m i n

a c c o r d a n c e o:i tk t h e 1 c ; ~ i I c l l and rcc.,sonaLl e dircc'i-i-cl;.:;

of h i s employer t h e ~;t:;vice fo r wh ich hp

c o n t r a c t e d , a n d t h a t any f a i l u r e on his p a r t

\, t o do j t ~ s t that of i t s c i f , a n d so l o n g a s

t h e f a i l UI-c c o n t i n u r S , d f - s c n t i t l c s him to such

payrnent, ,?l-1 t h a t a p p l i e d i n t h i s case, fro^: t11c

time w h ~ n Mr. S w i e v j n u a r e f u s e d t o obcl7 t h e

d i r c c t i c ~ n t r t . 12;i.i.z r,._lr,t.ioncd ail2 i ; h i l c t l i ~ t rcr'uszil

con1 i n i ~ e c i - ldl l j c)-, 7 , - i o r t170 r c \ n ) a i1:6tr o f t l l r s

- . .

I > T I C i

1 . t. 8 L , , I . ) l . . I\'C1y I L' L !! .

own a c t 1 o n , zl:d t:i;r- non-payment- of witqpC; iihkch

0 1 1 . I : c . c L h a t dj z c ~ i t i t i c i i ~ , . r ~ t and

no t by rcason of a n y o t h e r cause. I n o u r opinj-011,

the ~ l e c t r i c i t y S 0 l n : r l ; c:;ic)n W a s llot 0bl. igcd to

15.

p+y Mr. Swi.cringa f u r any tiri~c of h i s

r o s t e r e d slli.ft cn I!i:~.~Ciay, 1 . 7 t h Ipebruar;i l. 19 75,

a f t e r tirrte f i r s t 1-etused to cn r sy 0u.t t ! i ~

du ty reql.lircd of 11l;n. 'l.

It i s neces sa ry t o d e c i d e t h e n , whether on

t h e f ~ c t s o f t h e present . c a s e , t h e c la iman- t has proved t h a t

e i t h e r he was ready and w i l l i n g t o pe1:forrn h i s c o n t r a c t o r

t h a t h e perfo~:l::cd h i s work pursuant t o h i s c o n t r a c t , A s

was s t a t e d i n Austrzliai-1 Nat.j.ona.l. Airlines Concnissj .on v ,

. _ ~ - - _ - . . C - ---- - -

Robinson, -- s u p r a , t h i s may invo lve a q u e s t i o n of deg ree ,

The s t a t e m e n t of t h e claj-mant t h a t he would n o t perform

c e r t a i n d u t i e s was a n a t t empt by him t o vary t h e terriis o f

h i s c o n t r a c t of employment. The phraseo logy used i n t h e

N.S.W. c a s e w a s : " H i s s t a t e m e n t to his Superv i so r t h a t hc

w a s a v a i l a b l e f o r a11 o t h e r d u t i c s and t k a t hc was remaining

on t h e job was an a t t e m p t by him t o d i c t a t e t h e terns on

which he would work;a r i g h t t o do w h i c h h e d i d n o t possess".

I f t h e a t t empted v a r i a t i o n t o t h e c o n t r a c t o f emp1oync:nt

r e l a t e d t o i n s i g n i f i c a n t d u t i e s i n the s e n s e of t h e duties

being t r i v i a l o r of no substance, t h e d o c t r i n e of de n.inimus

may well app ly but here t h e v a r i a t i o n t o d u t i e s \.rere s i g ~ i f i c c 7 ~ : t .

They inc luded tile d u t i e s of f i l l i n g i n a n d forward ing forn?s

r e l a t i n g t o stamp du ty r e t u r n s , bank c h a r g e s , bank depositors'

accounts and g e ~ z r a l l e d g e r b a l a l ~ c e s , That thcsc dui-ies were

s i g n i f i c a n t i s suppor ted by t h e f a c t t h a t t h e A . B . E . U , s e l e c t e d

them t o be t h e s u b j e c t o f t h e ban,

S e n i o r Counsel f o r the c l a iman t submi t ted

t h a t t h e respondent had accep ted t h e v a r i a t i o n t o t h e te rms

of t h e c o n t r a c t of employment, H e r e l i e d on t h e f a c t t h a t the

c l a iman t w a s aliowccl t o remain a t his p l a c e of ernployri~cnt and

t o perform h i s o t h e r d u t i e s . I n a d d i t i o n t h e r e s p o n d c r ~ t hancccl

back t-o t h e c l a i ~ n a n t h i s key and t h e combination t o t h e

s a f e . Counsel submi t t ed t h a t t h i s iarnounted t o an acquiescence

t o t h e demands o f t h e clai-mant ancl that i n any e v e n t the

respondent r e c e i v e d the b e ~ ~ e i i t of t h e d u t i e s pc:rformc.cl by the

c l a i n ~ a n t .

I n my o p i n i o n , t h e respondent. d i d n o t

agree t o t h e v a r i a t i o n of t h e t e r m s of the c o n t r a c t of ernployn?r~t

npr- (1' ' i t : ' , l * L I, 1 7 t i f i t .

Tllc at:i- ;:c.lli~.ril;t to t i i c circil l..%:- L < . i C td t c : d t j i a t unciev n o

c c c w t r ~ z .11~ ni..r:crLLpts ' ~ o ?cl made by otlzcr employees

of t h e respolidcnt t o f o r c i b l y c j c c t o f f i cc r s v ~ h o refc;r;cd t o

16.

16.

l e a v c t h e prerniscs, paragraph 2 (e) . Lii;cl;.ise pa r ag raph

3 o f t h e attcichmentr. stated clcl-!rly t h e i n t e n t i o n of t h e

x&spoizdc?nt when a n o f f i c e r c o ! ~ h l . ~ ~ ; c d to g?rforrn p o r t i o n

o n l y of h i s d u t i e s . J n t h e c o n v ~ i s a t i o n between t h e

c l a iman t ancl, t h e b ranch manager 01; t h e morning oE 31 O c t o b c r ,

t h e rcspcnder i t s t a t e d c l e G r l y that-. the vc~r ia t j -on. t o t h e

c o n t r a c t of c3;nploymznt were not accepted . I n t h e s e c i r c u n ~ s t a n c c s

t h e return of the k e y s and t h e combination d o n o t c o n s t i t u t e

an a c c c p t a ~ l c c of t h e dernznds by t h e c la imant A d e l - i c a t e

s i t u a t i o n e x i s t e d . I n s u p p o r t of a campaign t o a l t e r

existing concl i t ions of enploymsnt t h e c l a i m a n t w a s a t t e m p t i n g

t o d i c t a t e t h e t e r m s upon which he would work. N e i t h e r p a r t y

wanted the e x i s t i n g f a c t s t o be t r e a t e d a s a ground fo r

dislci:;sal of emp1oymen.t and the f a i l u r e by the r e s p o n d e n t t o

t a k e t .hat f i n a l s t c p c z n n o t be treated as a n a c c e p t a n c e of

a v a r i a t i o n to t h e c o n t r a c k of E:-r[tployaent. I t foLlows t h a t

i n my o p i n i o n t h e c l a i m a n t h a s f a i l e d t o p r o v e t h a t on t h e

t h r e e days in'question he was ready and willing t o p e r f o r m h i s

contract of employment and has f a i l e d t o prove t h a t on those

days h e perforrfizd h i s contract of employment.

C l a u s e 6 of t h e A w a r d p rov ides t h a t

an o f f i c e r s h a l l be pa id t h e s a l a r y s p e c i f i e d i n t h e clause.

C l a u s e 7 ri~zk:?s s i n t i l a r p r c t7 i s ions f o r specified cI.,-t.ssifj.ca.-ti~r!s

and because the c l a i m a n t w a s r e l i e v i n g as an accoun tan t , clause

26 mzde the s a l a r y specified i n c l a u s e 7 , the s a l a r y payable

t o t h e c l a i m a n t . The Award o p a r a t e s o n a contract of

employraent, u n d e r t h e c o n t r a c t o f ernployment, t h e claj.n?ant

i s n o t entikled t o payment o:E s a l a r y f o r those three days .

Senior Coutlscl f o r t h e cla_i.rnai-ii; sub:i:it;ted t h a t under c l a u s e

12 o f the Award t h e r e s p o n d e n t was r e q u i r e d o r bound t o make

payment of s a l a ry without any deduction and t h a t in making

the i ieduci ion o f three d-lysl s a l a r y t he r e s p o n d e n t h a d com!riitted

a b r e a c h 02 the A w a r d ,

C l a u s e s 6 and 7 o f t h e Award prescri-be

an cnt- , i t lenc:nt to an a n n u a l sal.nl:y and impose a d e t y on t h e

respondent t o pay t h a t s a l a ry , sub j ec t a lways t o a c o n t r a c t

of employ~nent being i n e x i s t e n c e . C l a u s e 1 2 (a) p rov ides f o r

. . I . - , -

.-.. ' . . - , . . . .

. n

1 ,-	:l	".! .L c:	(.;;.l	,	.	.	. .	.	. \ [-!l	13<75::-:;	(3.:	,-
. .

c : ~ LLoa oz t.iie re~po; ic ' !~l i t . c7 L ; - C.. ; - . - l? .. ( . ) L: ~ ~ ~ l ; ~ i + ~ ~ a p ~ : i ~ ~ ~ - J . ~ q ~

upofi t h e respondcl?-i: to riaalic d:.i<i.i~c-l: ioi.1~ ! ~ l j ~ 1 ! 1 J.11 C X ~ ~ ~ C J Y ( ~ C i S

absei l t from d n t y w i t h o u t tho corisc:nt of t h e Dank d u r i n g t h e

17, . ,

p e r i o d i n xespoct of ~ k i , c h . the sn l i i r j . is paid. C l ause 3 1 F

"Salary D e d u c t i o n s " , confc-!~rs n . r l .ghk on a n employer t o make . .

d e d u c t i o n s f ran s a l a r y f o r gira.rn.!ltee, p r o v i d e n t o r s i .milax

f u n d s , . The openl.ng wortlis of c l a u s e l2 ( c ) enah!.cs r:n c.ir;ployer

to exercise the power conferred by t h e sub-cl-ause even when

t h e 'Award e i :prcss ly h i n d s the enploynr to p3.y s a l a r y wlitllout

d e d u c t i o n s , The power operates t o r e l i e v e an employer f r o m

l i a b i l i t y t o pay salary t o an employee which otherwise h e

would be r e q u i r e d t o pay , The Award d o e s n o t by e x p r e s s

provision a u t h o r i s e an employor t o malrc a d e d u c t i o n from salary

where an employec j-s p r e s e n t a . t h i s placc! of d u t y but refuses

t o perform a l l h i s duties, I n thc p r e s e n t caze, t h e amount

of the a c c o r d a n c e s a l a r y not paid by the r e s p o n d e n t was c a l c u l a t e d in

w i t h t h e fo rmula s e t out under , t h e h e a d i n q "P ; t>~ i~~en t

of Ba lances1 ' appea r ing i n the attachnc::t t o the c i r c u l a r le'i.txr

and which is t h e same formula as that set o u t i n c l a u s ~ 1-2(a)

of t h e A w a r d , Apparently t h e claimant makes no c l a i m w ? t h

r e s p e c t t o t h e der?.u.ction of salary referable t o Thursday 2

November b e i n g t h e day t h e c l a i n a n t wen t t o N e l b o u r r ~ e a n d t h u s

was a b s e n t from bui-y w i t h i n t h e meaning of c la -use 1-2 ( c ) ,

Courlsel f o r t h e respo~~i ler lC s u b ~ i t t e c l that

i n c l a u s e 12Cc) t h e phrase ' ' a b s c n t f r c n duty" appl-ics t o a c?l:s;r.

where an employee i s p r e s e n t b u t i s n o t prepared t o c a r r y

out all. h i s duties under h i s c o n t r a c L of employr~lent . H e

r e l i e d upon I n re Alicc A l d c n s o n . F-: P a r t e J a c k s o n [ l 8 3 5 1

_- -_3____ I - - - --- - ----_-

_ __ __-.___ ---

1.Q.B. 183 w h e r e Vaughan W i l l i a f i ~ s J, h e l l that i n order t o

come w i t h i n s e c , 4 of the Ban?rruptcy A c t 1-853 which const.i:i:1;tc3

a n a c t of b a n k r u p t c y o:here a deb to r , w i t h cer-l:ain i n t e n t , "aii. -.'

h i m s e l f " , a debtor need n o t a b s e n t h i l n s e l i from any p a r t i c : z . l ~ - -

place by p h y s i c a l bodily absence . H e r e l i e d a l s o on C The I ? ~ t e - ---- : i: -. -

Workers F'~c,dcration of Australia v, - Commonwca 3 t h S teamsh ip . --

- -W--*-- ..--F--- .._-_ - -

-

Owners . A s s o c i a t i o n 2 n d Ors ( 1 9 4 5 ) 55 C.A.R. 6 0 3 w h e r e Pi.per C,d.

h e l d t h a t u n d e r a Watcrsidc !.Jorl;crs' Award, e ~ ~ p l o y e e s t . 7 2 ~ 3 no'i

, e n t i t l e d t o p a p e n k of wages when they were i n "attendalsc+:"

hul; r c f u s c c l t o pcrzorra tl-:sir ciu:.ics.

These a u t h o r i t i e s a r e not of g r e a t

a s s i s t a n c e t o the f ~ i c t s of thr p r e s e n t case, There i s no

r e ~ t z o i l ~ , 1 7 ; 1 y t h e phr?,sn ' ' i l ' l > , ~ ~ t . 1- C r m q dut:y" ~p!>c.rlrinq in c l - , l i ~ 1 ~ ~

- 2 l , '3.5 L - ( - ( -

12 , > : 1

to phys ic:c?l bodi l y nbsenr-c\ f rorl d v t 5 c!s . Tile nrlaird mal:cs

p r o v i s i o n for payment of s a : a ~ - y when the employee i s n o t

18,

p r e s e n t a t h i s place of d u t y and n o t performing h i s normal

duties -- e.q. c l a u s c 2 4 , " k ~ ~ l u a l Leavef' , and c l a u s c 2 4 ( a )

"Siclc Leave". Clause 1 2 ( c ) does n o t c c n f e r a right on

t h e employee, it confe r s a p r i v i l e g e upon an citp?.oyer and

the employer h a s a d i s c r k t i o ~ ~ t o e x e r c i s e that p r i v i l e g e

o r n o t as it so chooses. The A w a r d by c o n f e r r i n g t h i s

privilec_je on t h e enip loyer does no t ,by neces sa ry i m p l i c a t i o n ,

o r by t h e a p p l i c a t i o n o f t h e maxim, . e s p r e s s i o un ius esclusic

a l t e r i u s , c o n f e r n du ty o r o b l i g a t i o n on t h e employer n o t

t o make a deducti .on of sal-azy f r o m an employee when t h e

employee has no r i g h t t o t h a t s a l a r y . Under his contract

of employment t h e c l a i m a n t i s not e n t i t l e d t o payrnent of

s a l a r y fo r t h e t h r e e days he r e f u s e d t o ca r ry o u t a l l h i s

normal. d u t i e s . The Awzrd by c l & u s e s 6 , 7 and 26 does n o t

confer a r i g h t on t h e c l a i x [ ~ a n t t o payment of s a l a r y f o r those

days, o r r a t h e r , t o be more a c c u r a t e , t h e Award does n o t

pl-ace a d u t y on t h e respondent t o ma1:e payment of s a l a r y t o

t h e c l a iman t where t h e c l a iman t n e i t h e r pezforms 211 h i s

duties n o r is.ready and w i l l i n g t o perforln a l l h i s d u t i e s .

Vhcre an er~ployee is absen t from duty i n the sense SE RC?~: 1 > 3 2 ~ 5

p r e s e n t p h y s i c a l l y a t t h e place where he should be perforniiny

his du ty , and t h e employer snakes deductions of payment of

salnry,'it i s relatively easy f o r t h e employer t o e s t a b l i s h

t h a - t he has' e x e r c i s e 6 the d i s c r e t i o n cor i fe r -ed by c l a u s e 1-2 ( c ) .

Where c l a u s e 1 2 ( c ) does n o t apply, a s i n this c a s e , t h e

claimarlt laust es tab l i s l i that the employer is b o ~ i l d by t h e

Award t o ?ay t h e s a l a r y for the three days, T h i s i-nvolves

d i f f i c u l t questions of fact and of law, In t h e present cace

it i n v o l v e s t h e c l a iman t e s t a b l i s h i n g that ~ ~ n d e r h i s c o n t r a c t

of employment he was e n t i t l e d t o payment f o i t h o s e t h r e e d 3 . y ~ .

Clauses 6 , 7 , 1 2 ( a ) and 26 of t h e Award thereupon impose a duty

on t h e respondent t o pay t o t h e c l a i m a n t t h e s a l a r y determixed

. in accorddnce w i t h t h o s e c l a u s e s . The o11us i s on t h e cl..aimcln'i

to prove khst the r c s p o n d e n t has com~ittcd a breach of the ? A ~ i i : ~ d .

The crimin&l onus applies, Vehicle _ _ _ _ _ I _ _ I Builders ~ m ~ l o y e r s V ~ c d ~ r a t i o n p

v. -p*- Gzncrcil l:otsrs Iioiden P Pty. Ltd. (1977) 1-8 I\LR 654, but in the

~ > r i ~ s r ~ : : : : : .pT/ ' k h r s - t ; c l ~ ? ~ : s;:-.rI,">r. {:h= s;;ma i f t>e c j v i 1 nnl_-r.r

. .

zips L.I-c~.GI e .

I n my o p i n i o n t-hc c l a i n 7 - l n t h?...; f a i l e d to

provc t h a t the rcspondent was u n d e r a d u t y t o pzy s a l a r y t o

19.

1.9 .

the claimant for t h e lilree days in qrlestion.	It f o 1 l . o ~ ~
therefore, t h a t i n nqi op in ion , the respond::ni	has n o t

Awarcl and accord l-ngl-y the app1-i-cakion is disnissed.

I c e r t i f y that this and the //

precadi:lg y . ~ - e s &-.c a t : u e i ~ q y o f the

Reaso.1~ f o r Judgnalit lierein or' I r i s ~ O ~ I O U X

Idr. Justice I