The Employment Relations Authority has ordered a compensation payment of $15,000 to be paid to a former McDonalds employee after she was constructively dismissed after joining a union.
The authority ruled Kaiapoi McDonald's conduct in relation to a union membership taken out by Chantelle Coup, aged 18; and the handing of an incident with another employee, led to her resignation in August 2007.
Unite union national director Mike Treen says franchise operators often take a decision by employees to join a union as a personal affront. He says young workers are particularly vulnerable.