Canterbury meatworker gets nearly $11,000 compensation

Talley's-owned factory South Pacific Meats has been ordered to pay compensation of $10,800 to a meatworker who claimed the company punished him after he cut his arm open last year.

Mr Doran, a union member, cut his left arm open while working at the Malvern factory, south of Christchurch, in May last year.

First aid was administered to Mr Doran however there was confusion amongst management about getting Mr Doran to the local medical centre. The Employment Relations Authority said there was no evidence to support a refusal rather there was a misguided belief that someone else was arranging transport along with an indifferent attitude. ERA member Helen Doyle said SPM did not take responsibility for ensuring that transport was actually provided. A workmate's wife eventually drove him to Christchurch Hospital about four hours after the accident.

Mr Doran was off work for a month and has permanent nerve damage to his arm.

When Mr Doran returned he was put to work on a C-grade paying job, demoted from the A-grade paying job he was performing prior to the injury. Mr Doran claimed this was punishment for raising a personal grievance against SPM for their failure to get him to the hospital.

Ms Doyle agreed and found there was a “measure of deliberateness” about the failure to transfer Mr Doran back to beef slaughterboard and resulting loss of wages.

The Employment Relations Authority has ordered South Pacific Meats to pay Alister Doran $10,800 in compensation and $1200 in lost wages after it found against the company on a number of claims.

It also ordered SPM to pay a penalty to the Authority of $3000 for breach of good faith.

Mr Doran was sacked later in the year for a second failed drugs test.