Labour Court rejects union’s appeal but recommends Grade 5 vacancy for Crown Equipment worker

The Labour Court rejected the Amalgamated Engineering And Electrical Union’s appeal over a worker’s job grade, but recommended that Crown Equipment appoint him to the first available Grade 5 vacancy. The Court dated its decision 25 September 1995. The union sought the Grade 5, Group 3 rate for a worker employed as a Grade 4, Group 2 welder, arguing he had taken over a position previously held at Grade 5. Crown Equipment said the former occupant’s higher rate was personal to him and did not transfer with the job. The Court found the post was graded as Grade 4 despite the previous occupant’s higher rate. It cited anomalies between job grades and pay rates and a breakdown in communication between management and shop-floor representatives.