McLeish, David v Kane, N.D. & Ors [1978] FCA 97

McLeish, David v Kane, N.D. & Ors [1978] FCA 97

The scheme of voting in rule 9(d) of the Electrical Trades Union's rules is unreasonable and unjust, being too heavily weighted in favour of smaller branches, and thus offends against s.140(1) of the Conciliation and Arbitration Act 1904; other challenged rules (10, 13, 20) are not so flawed. The matter is adjourned under s.140(6) to allow the union to remedy the defect.

Parties
Claimant: David McLeish; Respondent: N.D. Kane; Respondent: G.C. Colthorpe; Respondent: G.J. Emery; Respondent: C.W. Faure; Respondent: I. Auchterlonia; Respondent: E.J. Turnbull; Respondent: J.E. O'Brien; Respondent: G.H. Pitt; Respondent: R.M. Glastonbury; Respondent: D.I. Christiansen; Respondent: F.D. Price; Respondent: K.B. Gilbert; Respondent: S.D. Allen; Respondent: T.D. Rynn; Respondent: J.R. Devereux; Respondent: M.A. Walker; Respondent: C.O. Dolan; Applicant: N.D. Kane; Applicant: G.C. Colthorpe; Applicant: C.J. Emery; Applicant: C.W. Faure; Applicant: I. Auchterlonie; Applicant: E.J. Turnbull; Applicant: K.B. Gilbert; Applicant: S.D. Allen; Applicant: T.D. Rynn; Applicant: J.R. Devereux; Applicant: M.A. Walker; Applicant: C.O. Dolan; Respondent: David McLeish; Respondent: M.G.H. Pitt
Jurisdiction
Australia
Judgment Date
14 November 1978
Procedural Posture
Application (origins in Federal Industrial Law) / Interlocutory/final Determination – Matters Adjourned for Rectification of Rules, With Liberty to Apply
Outcome
Application partially successful; rules found partially in contravention of the Act; proceedings adjourned to allow union rectification.
Legal Topics
Trade Union Rules, Industrial Organisations, Statutory Interpretation, Representative Democracy
Industrial Law Trade Union Rules Industrial Organisations Statutory Interpretation Representative Democracy

Case Brief

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Parties

David McLeish

Claimant

N.D. Kane

Respondent

G.C. Colthorpe

Respondent

G.J. Emery

Respondent

C.W. Faure

Respondent

I. Auchterlonia

Respondent

E.J. Turnbull

Respondent

J.E. O'Brien

Respondent

G.H. Pitt

Respondent

R.M. Glastonbury

Respondent

D.I. Christiansen

Respondent

F.D. Price

Respondent

K.B. Gilbert

Respondent

S.D. Allen

Respondent

T.D. Rynn

Respondent

J.R. Devereux

Respondent

M.A. Walker

Respondent

C.O. Dolan

Respondent

N.D. Kane

Applicant

G.C. Colthorpe

Applicant

C.J. Emery

Applicant

C.W. Faure

Applicant

I. Auchterlonie

Applicant

E.J. Turnbull

Applicant

K.B. Gilbert

Applicant

S.D. Allen

Applicant

T.D. Rynn

Applicant

J.R. Devereux

Applicant

M.A. Walker

Applicant

C.O. Dolan

Applicant

David McLeish

Respondent

M.G.H. Pitt

Respondent

Procedural Posture

Application (origins in Federal Industrial Law) / Interlocutory/final Determination – Matters Adjourned for Rectification of Rules, With Liberty to Apply

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether rules 9(a), 9(d), 10, 13 and 20 of the Electrical Trades Union of Australia contravene s.140(1) of the Conciliation and Arbitration Act 1904
  2. 2 Whether the rules are oppressive, unreasonable or unjust having regard to the objects of the Act
  3. 3 Whether the scale of voting in rule 9(d) is unreasonably favourable to smaller branches and therefore offends the Act

Ratio Decidendi

The scheme of voting in rule 9(d) of the Electrical Trades Union's rules is unreasonable and unjust, being too heavily weighted in favour of smaller branches, and thus offends against s.140(1) of the Conciliation and Arbitration Act 1904; other challenged rules (10, 13, 20) are not so flawed. The matter is adjourned under s.140(6) to allow the union to remedy the defect.

Court Disposition

Application partially successful; rules found partially in contravention of the Act; proceedings adjourned to allow union rectification.

Orders

  • Proceedings adjourned pursuant to s.140(6) to allow the E.T.U. an opportunity to alter offending rules within three months.
  • Liberty to any party to apply on seven days notice.