KEY POINTS:
Eagle Airways has been ordered to pay a former pilot $5000 compensation for unjustified dismissal, but a number of his other claims against the airline have been rejected.
The Employment Relations Authority has released its decision on pilot Shaun Minto, who said that a mental illness in 2006 was a result of his dealings with Eagle Air and had eventually led to his dismissal.
Mr Minto sought a total of $265,000 compensation for loss of pay, and compensation for hurt and humiliation.
His claims against the airline included that it disestablished his original position without adequate consultation, failed to conduct proper performance and salary reviews, failed to refund expenses, and the airline was in the wrong in the way it handled his suspension from flying on medical grounds.
Eagle Air rejected the claims and told the authority it acted more than reasonably in all the pay issues, and acted in good faith at all times. It did not accept that Mr Minto's mental health condition, which caused the temporary loss of licence, was caused by the company's breaches of duty.
The Employment Authority's James Wilson dismissed all of Mr Minto's claims bar one: that the decision to terminate his employment in September 2006 was unjustified because Eagle Air failed to correctly consult with him.
Appropriate financial compensation was judged to be $5000. A decision on legal costs was reserved.
Mr Minto started working for Eagle Air as a contract pilot in 1999 in Hamilton and was later employed directly by the company.
He moved to Tauranga in 2004 and his old position was disestablished and his new role meant a lesser salary.
There were disputes about Eagle Air failing to back pay a salary increase, not allowing him to join a superannuation scheme and failed to refund travel expenses.
Mr Minto said that as a result of his treatment he suffered from insomnia and the early stages of depression, which the airline did not deal with properly.
In September 2005 an oversight by Mr Minto caused an incident that led to a tyre blow out. He was diagnosed as suffering from clinical depression and his aviation medical certificate was suspended.
Mr Minto took nearly a year off before Eagle Air decided to terminate his employment in 2006.
Earlier this year Mr Minto was appointed as the general manager of the Falkland Island Government air service.
- NZPA
