Telecom Communications v An Application by H.S.F Slootjes for an Interpretation of the 1975 Award (General Conditions of Employment)

[1980] FCA 177

I N THE FEDEWL COURT OF AUSTRALIA ) V. NO. 19 O f 1980

1

INDUSTRIAL DIVISlON	) V. No. 20 of 1980
1
-	VICTORIA DISTRICT REGISTRY	)
IN THE VATTER of the Conciliation-and Arbltratlon Act 1904
IN THE MATTER of the Australlan Telecomrnunlcations Commisslon (General Conditions of Employment) &ward 1975
and
IN THE MATTER of an Appllcatlon by Hubert
Francis Sloot~es f o r an
Interpretatlon of the above Award

REASONS FOR JUDGMENP

27 November 1980 KEELY J.

These are two applications by Hubert Francis Sloot~es

(the applicant) f o r an interpretation of several provisions

of the Australian Telecommunlcatlons Commission Employees

(General Conditions of Employment) Award 1975 (the General Conditlons Award) . On the return of the summons f o r dlrcctlons and at the hearing of both matters the applicant appeared in person and Dr C. Jessup of counsel appeared f o r

z

2 .

the Australian Telecommunications Commission (the

Commission). At the hearing the parties Zonsented to the two matters being heard together. A third application (Katter V.

No. 21 of 1980) by the applicant was for an interpretation of

the Australian Telecommunications Commission Clerlcal,

Manipulative and Other Grades (Salaries and Specific

Conditions of Employment) Award 1977 (the Speclfic Condltions

Award). At the request of the applicant and with the consent

I

of the Commission the third application was stood over to

enable the applicant to consider his position after the Court

has given judgment on these two applications (Matters Nos.

V.19 and V.20 of 1980).

It was admitted by the Commission in relation to both

matters that:

(a) the applicant is a member of an organisatlon bound by the Ger.?ral Conditions Award;

(b) the Commission is bound by the General Conditions

Award;

(C)

the General Conditions Award applies according to its

terms to the employment by the Commission of the

appllcant.

In Matter V. No. 19 of 1980 the applicant 1 s seeking an interpretation of sub-clause 9(4) and sub-clause 9 (6) of the General Conditlons Award. Sub-clause 9(4) provides:

3 .

" ( 4 ) The hourly rate for overtime payment

shall be ascertained by applylng the followlng

formulae:

(a) Time and a half rate -

Annual Salary X 6 X 3 -

313	Prescribed weekly	2
hours before overtime is payable

(b) Duuble time rate -

Annual Salary X 6 X 2

313 Prescribed weekly i

hours before

overtime is payable

Provided that the maximum hourly rate shall	be
the rate ascertained by regarding annual

salary as shown as Code A of Schedule A .

Provided further that the rate so ascertained shall be not less than slngle tlme based on the employee's tnnual salary."

The application set out certain statements of fact

relied upon in support of the application. Mr Slootjes was

first employea by the Postmaster General's Department on 13

June 1961 as a labourer, grade 1, on cleaning duties at the Benalla Telephone Exchange. His employment by the Post

Master General's Department continued until he was

transferred to Telecom on 1 July 1975. Details of his hours

of work are set out in the application. Put briefly, he

worked a six day week until November 1972, then a five day

week untll March 1977 and since then a nlne day fortnight.

The application drafted by MK Slootjes submitted

that sub-clause 9 ( 4 ) of the General Conditions Award should

2

4 .

b e i n t e r p r e t e d as f o l l o w s :

"Employees whose a n n u a l s a l a r y i s less t h a n

t h e e x p r e s s f i g u r e p r o m u l g a t e d i n Schedu le A -

Code A when r e q u i r e d t o work o v e r t i m e , s h a l l

be pa id a t t h e r a t e r e s u l t i n g f r o m t h e f l g u r e

so p r o m u l g a t e d b c a u s e of t h e d i r e c t

c o m m u n i c a t i o n o f t h a t f i g u r e i n r e l a t i o n t o

t h e f o r m u l a e ' s A and B of s u b - c l a u s e 4 . T h e r e

is e x p r e s s m e n t i o n of S c h e d u l e A - Code A and

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

e x c l u d e d . E x p r e s s u m f a c i t c e s s a r e tacticum is

a t ru ism i n law." (s ic)

I h a v e s u b - c l a u s e a l r e a d y set o u t t h e terms o f t h e f i r s t p r o v i s o t o

9 ( 4 ) w h i c h p r o v i d e s " t h a t t h e maximum h o u r l y r a t e

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

S c h e d u l e A " . T h e a p p l i c a n t ' s c o n t e n t i o n

is t h a t t h e f i r s t p r o v i s o m e a n s t h a t t h e a n n u a l s a l a r y t o t o

t h e o v e r t i m e p a y m e n t s t w o f o r m u l a e i n c a l c u l a t i n g t h e h o u r l y r a t e f o r

u s e d i n

s h o u l d b e t h e f i g u r e "as shown i n Code A o f

S c h e d u l e A" of t h e a w a r d . I t was a g r e e d b e t w e e n t h e p a r t i e s

a t t h e d i r e c t i o n s h e a r i n g t h a t t h e a n n u a l s a l a r y i n Code A o f

S c h e d u l e A was somewhat more than $ 1 4 , 0 0 0 .

T h e b a s i s o f Mr S l o o t j e s ' a r g u m e n t is t h a t , a s t h e

f i r s t p r o v i s o t o s u b - c l a u s e 9 ( 4 ) e x p r e s s l y m e n t i o n s " a n n u a l

s a l a r y a s shown a s Code A o f S c h e d u l e A " , t h a t a n n c a l s a l a r y

s h o u l d b e i n s e r t e d i n t h e two p l a c e s w h e r e t h e words "Annual

S a l a r y " a p p e a r i n t h e two f o r m u l a e a s set o u t in s u b - c l a u s e

9 ( 4 ) ( a ) a n d ( b ) r e s p e c t i v e l y - i n s t e a d o f t h e a c t u a l a n n u a l

s a l a r y o f t h e e m p l o y e e c o n c e r n e d . H o w e v e r , i n my o p i n i o n t h e

5.

l r l t e n t i o n m a n l f e s t e d i n t h e f i r s t p r o v i s o i s s l m p l y t o f i x a

maximum h o u r l y r a t e , i . e . a n h o u r l y r a t e which mus no t t be

e x c e e d e d b y a n y " h o u r l y r a t e f o r o v e r t i m e p a y m e n t .. .

a s c e r t a i n e d b y a p p l y i n g " e i t h e r of t h e f o r m u l a e i n s u b - c l a u s e

9 ( 4 ) ( a ) or s u b - c l a u s e 9 ( 4 ) ( b ) . If t h e e f f e c t o f t h e f l r s t

p r o v i s o is t h a t h e w o r d s " A n n u a l S a l a r y " i n t h e f o r m u l a e i n

p a r a g r a p h s ( a ) and (b) a r e t o be r e a d a s I f t h e y mean t h e

" a n n u a l s a l a r y a s shown a s Code A of Schedu le A" t h e n i t

w o u l d b e q u i t e u n n e c e s s a r y for t h e f i r s t p r o v i s o t o use t h e

word "maximum".

A t t h e h e a r i n g of t h e summons f o r d i r e c t i o n s Mr

S l o o t j e s ' a t t e n t i o n was drawn to t h e q u e s t i o n o f w h e t h e r t h e

p r o v i s i o n was i n t e n d e d t o h a v e t h e e f f ec t f o r w h l c h h e

con tended . I t was p o i n t e d o u t t h a t o n t h a t b a s i s p e r s o n s o n

annual s a l a r i e s v a r y i n g f r o m $ 8 , 0 0 0 t o $ 1 2 , 0 0 0 w o u l d a l l

r e c e i v e t h e same h o u r l y r a t e for any over t ime work performed

by them - n o t w i t h s t a n d i n g t h a t i n respect of a l l o r d i n a r y

time p e r f o r m e d a n e m p l o y e e w h o s e a n n u a l s a l a r y 1 s $ 1 2 , 0 0 0

would be e n t i t l e d t o a n h o u r l y r a t e 5 0 % h i g h e r t h a n t h a t of

a n e m p l o y e e r e c e i v i n g a n a n n u a l s a l a r y o f $8 ,000 .

M r S l o o t j e s o b v i o u s l y g a v e c o n s i d e r a t i o n t o t h l s

aspect i n p r e p a r i n g h i s a r g u m e n t s f o r p r e s e n t a t i o n a t t h e

h e a r i n g . He r e l i e d upon cer ta in s t a t e m e n t s made by t h e P u b l i c

S e r v i c e A r b i t r a t o r ( ( 1 9 5 8 ) 3 8 C.P.S.A.R. 67) I n d e a l l n g w i t h

a n a p p l i c a t i o n by t h e P u b l i c S e r v i c e B o a r d t o v a r y a number

i

6.

of determinations, including Determination No. 3 2 of 1956

(General Conditions of Service). Since the completion of the hearing in these matters I have had the opportunity to study the official print of that decision supplied by Mr Slootjes.

I can appreciate the significance which he attaches to the

passages which he read to the Court in putting his argument - and in particular the passages there cited from the earlier decision in Determlnation No. 91 of 1951 of MK Arbitrator Castieau ((1951) 31 C.P.S.A.R. pp.486-7). Nevertheless, for

the reasons which I have given, in my opinion the clear

intention of the first proviso is to fix a maximum hourly

rate - which must not be exceeded by the hourly rate for

overtime. Until that maximum is reached, the hoLrly rate for

overtime payment shall be ascertained by applylng the

appropriate formula to the actual annual salary of the

employee. Perhaps I should add that the second proviso to

sub-clause 9(4) (which is set out earlier) simply provides

that the hourly rate for overtime payment, ascertained in

accordance with either of the two formulae in sub-clause

9 ( 4 1 , shall not be less than the single time rate based on

the employee's annual salary. The application	for	the
interpretation of sub-clause 9 (4) is dismissed.

Sub-clause 9 (6) of the General Conditions Award

provides:

"(6) Except with e approval of the

Commlssion, the occupant of posltlons, the

..

7.

minimum s a l a r y of wh ich exceeds t h e s a l a r y

shown a s Code C of S c h e d u l e A s h a l l n o t b e

e l i g i b l e t o receive over t ime payment . "

T h e a p p l i c a t i o n d r a f t e d by Mr S l o o t j e s s u b m i t t e d t h a t

s u b - c l a u s e 9(6) s h o u l d b e i n t e r p r e t e d as f o l l o w s :

" S u b - c l a u s e 6 , a t J u n e 1980, p r e s c r i b e a

s p e c i f i e d a n n u a l s a l a r y of $20952 d o l l a r s i n

a c c o r d a n c e w i t h S c h e d u l e A - Code C , and i s

c o m m o n l y	r e f e r r e d	t o	a s	O v e r t i m e	S a l a r y
Barr ier .

E m p l o y e e s e a r n i n g i n e x c e s s o f $20952 d o l l a r s

per annum a r e n o t e l i g i b l e f o r o v e r t i m e

p a y m e n t i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h C l a u s 9(4) u n l e s s

approved by the Commission.

My i n t e r p r e t a t i o n i s t h a t e m p l o y e e s , on a

36.75 Hour a w e e k , w h o s e a n n u a l s a l a r y is more

a s t h e s t i l l ' S a l a r y B a r r i e r ' o f $20952 d o l l a r s a r e

e l i g i b l e f o r o v e r t i m e in a c c o r d a n c e w i t h

t h e f o r m u l a e ' S A and B b e c a u s e t h e r a t e so

a s c e r t a i n e d is not less t h a n s i n g l e time based

on t h e employees annua l s a l a r y . " (sic)

T h e a p p l i c a n t c o n t e n d s t h a t , d e s p i t e t h e wording of

s u b - c l a u s e 9(6), a p e r s o n o c c u p y i n g a p o s l t i o n w i t h a minimum

s a l a r y in excess of Code C o f S c h e d u l e A is n o n e t h e l e s s

e n t i t l e d r e c e i v e t o o v e r t i m e p a y m e n t s . He d e s c r i b e s

s u b - c l a u s e 9 ( 6 ) in h i s a p p l i c a t i o n a s b e i n g " t o t a l l y

m i s c h i e v o u s a n d d e s i g n e d t o c o n f u s e pa r t i e s " and adds " i t is

p r e s u m p t u o u s a n d i n c o r r e c t , t h e r e f o r e ( i t ) should be removed"

f rom the award . Mr S l o o t j e s c o n c e d e d t h a t s u b - c l a u s e 9(6)

d o e s n o t a p p l y t o h i s p o s i t i o n . His a p p l i c a t i o n i n r e s p e c t

of t h e p r o v i s i o n seems t o a r i s e f r o m h i s c l a i m t h a t t h e

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

1.

8.

f rom time t o time h a v e t e r d e d to answer him by s a y i n g t h a t h e

s h o u l d n o t b e c o m p l a i n i n g b e c a u s e t h e y d o n o t r e c e i v e a n y

o v e r t i m e payment a t a l l .

I n my o p i n i o n s u b - c l a u s e 9(6) i s q u i t e c l e a r a n d l a y s

down, a s a n o v e r r i d i n g p r o v i s i o n , t h a t t h e o c c u p a n C s of

p o s i t i o n s i n respect of w h i c h t h e minimum s a l a r y " e x c e e d s t h e

s a l a r y shown as Code C o f Schedu le A s h a l l n o t b e e l i g i b l e t o

r e c e i v e o v e r t i m e p a y m e n t " - e x c e p t w i t h t h e a p p r o v a l o f t h e

Commission. The purpose of t h e p r o v i s i o n is p l a i n l y t o

p r e s c r i b e a mlnimum s a l a r y l e v e l a b o v e w h i c h t h e o c c u p a n t of

t h e p o s i t i o n is n o t e l i g i b l e t o r e c e i v e p a y m e n t f o r o v e r t i m e

- u n l e s s i n t e r p r e t a t i o n t h e C o m m i s s i o n a p p r o v e s t h e p a y l e n t . T h e

s o u g h t i n d i c a t e s t h a t M K S l o o t j e s r e l i e s upon

t h e s e c o n d p r o v i s o t o s u b - c l a u s e 9 ( 4 ) w h i c h p r o v i d e s t h a t :

" P r o v i d e d f u r t h e r t h a t t h e r a t e so a s c e r t a l n e d

s h a l l b e n o t less t h a n s i n g l e time based on

t h e e m p l o y e e ' s a n n u a l s a l a r y . "

However , t he s econd p rov i so is d e a l i n g w i t h t h e a m o u n t of t h e

r a t e w h e r e a n h o u r l y r a t e is t o b e p a i d for o v e r t i m e .

S u b - c l a u s e 9(6) o v e r r i d e s t h e terms o f t h e p r o v l s o b y

e x p r e s s l y p r o v i d i n g i n a n u n q u a l i f i e d a n d u n a m b i g u o u s way

t h a t t h e o c c u p a n t s of c e r t a i n p o s i t l o n s " s h a l l n o t be

e l i g i b l e t o r e c e i v e o v e r t i m e p a y m e n t s " , i . e . a n y o v e r t i m e

payment (un less approved by the Commiss lon) . I t f o l l o w s

t h e r e is n o " r a t e so a s c e r t a i n e d " a n d t h e s e c o n d p r o v l s o

9.

t h e r e f o r e d o e s n o t a p p l y . A c c o r d i n g l y , t h e a p p l i c a t l o n f o r

t h e i n t e r p r e t a t i o n of s u b - c l a u s e 9 ( 6 ) is d l s m i s s e d .

I n M a t t e r V. No. 20 of 1 9 8 0 t h e a p p l i c a n t is s e e k i n g

a n i n t e r p r e t a t i o n o f C l a u s e 1 5 of t h e G e n e r a l C o n d i t i o n s

Award. Clause 15 of t h e award p r o v l d e s t h a t :

"15. SHIET DUTY

1. An employee who is r o s t e r e d t o pe r fo rm

a n d p e r f o r m s o r d i n a r y d u t y on a s h i f t , any

p a r t o f w h i c h f a l l s b e t w e e n t h e h o u r s o f 6

p.m. a n d 6 . 3 0 a.m., s h a l l p a i d b e a n

a d d i t i o n a l f i f t e e n per c e n t u m o f h l s a l a r y

f o r t h a t s h i f t .

2 . Where a n employee i s r e q u i r e d t o work h l s

o r d i n a r y h o u r s c o n t i n u o u s l y f o r a ~ 2 r i o d

exceed ing fou r weeks on a s h i f t f a l l i n g w h o l l y

w i t h i n t h e a d d i t i o n a l t h i r t y h o u r s of 6 p.11,. and 8 a.m., h e

s h a l l b e p a i d w i t h respect t o t h a t s h i f t a n

per c e n t u m o f h i s s a l a r y f o r

t h a t s h i f t .

3 . T h e maximum rate o f p a y m e n t u n d e r t h i s

c l a u s e s h a l l be computed on a s a l a r y r a t e

shown a s Code A i n S c h e d u l e A .

4 . T h e a d d i t i o n a l payment p r e s c r l b e d b y t h i s

c l a u s e s h a l l n o t b e t a k e n i n t o a c c o u n t i n t h e

c o m p u t a t i o n o f ove r t ime or i n t h e

d e t e r m i n a t i o n of a n y a l l o w a n c e b a s e d u p o n

s a l a r y , n o r s h a l l i t b e p a i d w l t h respect t o

a n y s h i f t f o r w h i c h a n y o t h e r f o r m of p e n a l t y

payment i s made under t h i s Award o r u n d e r t h e

p r o v i s i o n s of t h e T e l e c o m m u n i c a t i o n s A c t 1975,

R e g u l a t i o n s or	By-Laws	a s amended	from	time t o
time .

5. T h e p e r i o d f o r w h i c h t a d d i t l o n a l e

p a y m e n t p r e s c r i b e d b y t h i s c l a u s e s h a l l b e

p a i d , s h a l l b e c a l c u l a t e d t o t h e n e a r e s t

q u a r t e r of a n h o u r o f t h e t o t a l a m o u n t o be

c l a i m e d i n e a c h f o r t n i g h t l y p e r i o d .

6. A d d i t i o n a l p a y m e n t f o r o r a l n a r y d u t y , a s

provlded by t h l s c l a u s e , s h a l l b e made i n

-. 10.

respect o f a n y s u c h d u t y w h i c h a n employee

would h a v e p e r f o r m e d h a d h e n o t b e e n o n

a p p r o v e d r e c r e a t i o n l e a v e . "

T h e a p p l i c a n t s u b m i t s t h a t C l a u s e 1 5 s h o u l d b e

i n t e r p r e t e d i n t h e f o l l o w i n g m a n n e r :

i

"I am e l i g i b l e f o r a 1 5 % p e r c e n t s h i f t d u t y

a l l o w a n c e b e c a u s e of t h e word "ANY" i n t h e

con tex t o f t h e s u b - c l a u s e (1) w h i c h i n c l u d e

06.30 H O U K , t h e time I commence r o s t e r e d d u t y

each work ing day . " (s ic)

S u b - c l a u s e 1 5 ( 1 ) o f t h e G e n e r a l C o n d i t i o n s Award

p r o v i d e s , i n t e r a l i a , t h a t " e m p l o y e e n who ... p e r f o r m s

o r d l n a r y d u t y o n a s h i f t , a n y p a r t of w h i c h f a l l s b e t w e e n t h e

h o u r s of 6 p.m. and 6.30 a.m., s h a l l b e p a i d a n a d d l t j o n e l

f i f t e e n per centum" as a s h i f t p e n a l t y . T h e a p p l i c a n t

r e g u l a r l y commences work a t 6.30 a.m. T h e a p p l i c a n t c o n t e n d s

t h a t p a r t of h i s p e r i o d o f d u t y " f a l l s b e t w e e n t h e h o u r s o f 6

p.m. and 6.30 a.m.". Mr S l o o t j e s u p p o r t e d h i s a r g u m e n t by

r e f e r r i n g t o cases c i t e d i n "Words and Phrases Lega l ly

D e f i n e d " ( S e c o n d E d i t i o n - 1969) showin83 t h a t t h e word "any"

is a word of ve ry w ide mean ing . I accept t h a t s u b m l s s l o n .

However, it is st i l l n e c e s s a r y f o r t h e a p p l i c a n t t o show t h a t

" a n y p a r t of" t h e s h i f t f e l l " b e t w e e n t h e h o u r s of 6 p.m. and

6 .30 a .m ." . The app l i can t ' s a rgumen t r e l i e s h e a v i l y u p o n t h e

w o r d " a n y . "between". a n d g i v e s i n s u f f i c i e n t w e i g h t t o t h e w o r d

T h e a p p l i c a n t a l s o r e l l e d upon a Telecom document

h e a d e d " I n s t r u c t i o n s o n I n d u s t r i a l P r o c e d u r e s " . Mr S l o o t j c s

made e x p r e s s r e f e r e n c e i n h i s w r i t t e n s t a t e m e n t , d a t e d 1 7

November 1980 i n s u p p o r t o f h i s a p p l i c a t i o n , t o item 12/7/10.

H o w e v e r , t h a t item i n t h e d o c u m e n t , i n r e f e r r i n g t o d u t y

commenced a t 6 . 3 0 a.m., i s d i r e c t e d t o t h e c a s e o f " l a t c

a t t e n d a n c e " f o r a s h i f t r o s t e r e d to commence b e f o r e 6 . 3 0 a.m.

a n d d o e s n o t a s s i s t t h e a p p l i c a n t ' s c a s e .

Mr S l o o t j e s ' a r g u m e n t a p p e a r s t o b e b a s e d s i m p l y u p o n

t h e f a c t t h a t o n e s p e c i f i e d p o i n t o f time ( 6 . 3 0 a.m.) i s

common b o t h t o t h e p e r i o d r e f e r r e d t o i n s u b - c l a u s e 1 5 ( 1 ) a n d

t o t h e p e r i o d o f work r e g u l a r l y p e r f o r m e d b y t h e a p p l i c a n t .

However, i n my o p i n i o n t h a t f a c t i s n o t s u f f i c l e n t t o b r l n g

t h e a p p l i c a n t ' s p e r i o d of d u t y w i t h i n s u b - c l a u s e 1 5 ( 1 ) . T h e

matter may b e t e s t e d i n t h i s way. If c o n t i n u o u s s h i f t s were

r e g u l a r l y worked and one mployee worked from 6 p.m. t o 6 . 3 0

a.m. and ano the r employee t ook ove r t h e p e r f o r m a n c e o f t h a t

d u t y a n d commenced d o i n g so a t 6 . 3 0 a.m., t h e n i t c o u l d n o t

b e s a i d a s a m a t t e r o f d i n a r y l a n g u a g e t h a t h e was

p e r f o r m i n g d u t y " a n y p a r t o f w h i c h ( f e l l ) b e t w e e n t h e h o u r s

o f 6 p.m. and 5.30 a.m.". No p a r t o f i t would be "between"

t h o s e h o u r s b e c a u s e t h e s e c o n d e m p l o y e e , b y s t a r t i n g work a t

6 . 3 0 a.m., commenced t o perform h i s work a t t h e p o i n t of time

when t h e p r e v i o u s p e r i o d o f work is comple t ed .

I am u n a b l e t o uphold Mr S l o o t j e s ' a r g u m e n t a n d

a c c o r d i n g l y t h e appl lca t ion f o r t h e i n t e r p r e t a t l o n o f c l a u s e

1 5 is d i s m i s s e d .