KEY POINTS:
Act candidate Shawn Tan is taking legal action against the Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union after he was sacked as an organiser this week.
Mr Tan, who worked as an organiser at the union's call centre, was suspended on August 18 after it was revealed he was to stand for the Act Party and had not sought the union's permission.
The EPMU said at the time that Mr Tan was suspended on full pay as it investigated the case.
National secretary Andrew Little said yesterday that Mr Tan had been fired after the union decided his actions had irrevocably damaged the employment relationship.
"The requirement to seek approval was agreed to by Shawn at the time of his employment," Mr Little said.
"It would have been possible to resolve the issue of candidacy if Shawn had acted in good faith, but actions such as holding a press conference outside our office and calling us racist ... significantly changed the relationship with Shawn and the issues got harder."
Mr Tan's advocate, Max Whitehead, said he was astonished the union had gone through with the dismissal.
"They are a defender of employees' rights, that's their status in life, and here they are treating one of their own so dismally - dismissing him for his political beliefs.
"They said, 'If you're going to stand for a political party, we would instruct you that you have to come and seek our consent first'.
"Shawn did not do that on the basis that that's an unlawful requirement."
- NZPA
