Complainant

Respondent

Anonymised Parties

A Retained Firefighter

A Local Authority

Representatives

SIPTU

L.G.M.A.

Act

Complaint/Dispute Reference No.

Date of Receipt

Complaint seeking adjudication by the Workplace Relations Commission under section 27 of the Organisation of Working Time Act, 1997

CA-00027078-001

14/03/2019

Complaint seeking adjudication by the Workplace Relations Commission under section 27 of the Organisation of Working Time Act, 1997

CA-00027078-002

14/03/2019

Complaint seeking adjudication by the Workplace Relations Commission under section 27 of the Organisation of Working Time Act, 1997

CA-00027078-003

14/03/2019

Complaint seeking adjudication by the Workplace Relations Commission under section 27 of the Organisation of Working Time Act, 1997

CA-00027078-004

14/03/2019

Complaint seeking adjudication by the Workplace Relations Commission under section 27 of the Organisation of Working Time Act, 1997

CA-00027078-005

14/03/2019

Complaint seeking adjudication by the Workplace Relations Commission under section 27 of the Organisation of Working Time Act, 1997

CA-00027078-006

14/03/2019

Complaint seeking adjudication by the Workplace Relations Commission under section 27 of the Organisation of Working Time Act, 1997

CA-00027078-007

14/03/2019

Complaint seeking adjudication by the Workplace Relations Commission under section 27 of the Organisation of Working Time Act, 1997

CA-00027078-008

14/03/2019

·         The complainant is employed by the respondent as a Retained Firefighter since September 2008. The complaints relate to the following alleged breaches of the Organisation of Working Time Act, 1997; Section 15 (Excessive Weekly working Hours), Section 11 (Daily Rest Breaks), Section 12 (Rest Breaks at work), Section 16 (Excessive Working Hours per day/week), Section 13 (Weekly Rest), Section 17 ( Notification of Starting Times/Finishing Times/Additional Hours),Section 21 (Public Holiday Entitlements) and Section 14 (Sunday Work).

The complaints were referred to the Workplace Relations Commission on 14th March 2019. The cognisable period of the complaint is therefore 15th September 2018 to 14th March 2019.

The complainant stated that he has been employed by the Local Authority as a Retained Firefighter since September 2008. By virtue of his contract of employment he is required to reside and work within a five-minute response time of the Fire Station while on call. The complainant stated that this requirement places considerable restrictions on him and prevents him from caring for his children and other relatives.

The complainant contends that while he is on-call, he is actually engaged in working time. The complainant stated that the issue was addressed by the Court of Justice of the European Union in case C-518/15 Ville de Nivelles v Rudy Matzak, ECLI:EU:C:2017:619 (hereafter “Matzak”). The complainant stated that in the Matzak case, a volunteer firefighter who was required to remain at home and report to the Fire Station within 8 minutes of receiving an alert was deemed to have been engaged in “working time” while on call on the basis of the requirements placed on him by the employer.

The complainant stated that the time he is on-call must also be considered to be working time given the similarities between his circumstances and those as outlined in the decision in Matzak. Accordingly, the complainant contends that the respondent has committed multiple breaches of the legislation.

The respondent outlined that it is exempt from applying the provisions of Sections 11, 12, 13, 15 and 16 of the Organisation of Working Time Act, 1997 by virtue of Paragraph 2 of Article 17 of Directive 2003/88 which identifies a number of areas where derogations from the rights conferred by the Directive are permitted which include “fire and civil protection services”. The respondent outlined that these derogations are provided in this jurisdiction by S.I. No 21/1998 – Organisation of Working Time (General Exemptions) Regulations, 1998 and by S.I. 52 of 1998 - Organisation of Working Time (Exemption of Civil Protection Services) Regulations 1998 and specifically refer to “the activity of a person employed by a fire authority in the position commonly known as a retained firefighter.”

The respondent stated that in relation to the alleged breaches of Sections 14 of the Act, there is a collective agreement in place which provides for the payment of a premium for attendance at weekends. In relation to the complainant’s attendance pattern and alleged breach of Section 17 of the Act, the respondent stated that the complainant’s contract of employment sets out the basis for the complainant’s attendance and therefore it is unclear what the specific breach of the Act is.

Working Time

The respondent stated that Article 2(1) and (2) of Directive 2003/88 define working time as being “any period during which the worker is working, at the employer’s disposal and carrying out his activities or duties”. Rest periods are defined as “any period which is not working”.

The respondent cited the CJEU in cases C‑303/98 Sindicato de Medicos de Asistencia Publica (SIMAP) v Constelleria de Sandidad eY Consumo de la Generalidad Valenciana [2000] IRLR 845 and CaseC‑151/02 Landesshauptstadt Keil v Jaeger [2003] IRLR 804 ("the SIMAP and Jaeger cases") which provide that that time spent on standby can only be regarded as working time if the workers are required to be present at the workplace whereas workers who are not required to remain at a place determined by the employer, but who must be reachable if required, are only engaged in working time while actually involved in the provision of services.

The respondent stated that in the instant case, the complainant, while on call is not required to remain at a place determined by the employer and is not involved in the provision of services.

The respondent also stated that whilst the complainant is paid a retainer to be available, he is also paid additional fees for attending at fires and training events that are calculated separately and on the basis of attendance. Accordingly, the respondent contends that the time spent on-call cannot be regarded as working time.

Employment Relationship

The respondent outlined that the complainant is also employed under a contract of employment with another employer. In those circumstances, a mutuality of obligation exists between the complainant and his main employer; the obligation on the employer to provide work for the complainant and on the complainant to carry out the work under the direction and control of the main employer. The respondent contends that mutuality of obligation cannot exist simultaneously between two employers. The respondent stated that, the nature of the relationship between the respondent and the complainant outside of what is considered to be contractual hours once alerted to an incident, is characterised by the exercise of choice, free from the direction of the respondent and free to undertake other employment and activities.

Case C-518/15 Ville de Nivelles v Rudy Matzak ECLI:EU:C: 2017: 619(Matzak)

The respondent stated that the specifics of the complainant’s engagement are not on all fours with the decision in Matzak. The respondent contends that the complainant’s position is more effectively reflected in the Matzak at Paragraph 60 which states as follows:

“Finally, it must be observed that the situation is different where the worker performs a stand-by duty according to a stand by system which requires that the worker be permanently accessible without being required to be present at the place of work. Even if he is at the disposal of his employer, since it must be possible to contact him, in that situation the worker may manage his time with fewer constraints and pursue his own interests. In those circumstances, only time linked to the actual provision of services must be regarded as working time within the meaning of Directive 2003/88 (see to that effect, judgement of 9 September 2003, Jaeger, C-151/02, eu:c:2003:437, paragraph 65 and the case law cited).”

In conclusion the respondent submits that the complaints are not well founded and should be dismissed.

The complainant has stated that the respondent has committed multiple breaches of the Organisation of Working Time Act, 1997 in respect of his employment as a Retained Firefighter. The alleged breaches lack specifics but are based on the complainant’s assertions that by virtue of the CJEU Decision in Matzak that all time spent on standby/on-call is regarded as working time. On that basis, the complainant contends that he is actually working 144 hours per week and the breaches of the legislation occur as a result of the level of hours worked.

Definitions of Working Time

Article 2(1) of Directive 2003/88/EC defines working time as follows:

“working time” means any period during which the worker is working, at the employer’s disposal and carrying out his activity or duties, in accordance with national laws and/or practice.

Section 2(1) of the Organisation of Working Time Act, 1997 defines working time as follows:

"working lime " means any time that the employee is

(a)     at his or her place of work or at his or her employer's disposal, and

(b)     carrying on or performing the activities or duties of his or her work,

and

"work" shall be construed accordingly.

Article 2(2) of Directive 2003/88/EC defines rest periods as follows:

“rest period” means any period which is not working time.

Case C-518/15 Ville de Nivelles v Rudy Matzak ECLI:EU:C: 2017: 619(Matzak)

The complainant’s case is grounded on the decision of the CJEU in Matzak. Consequently, it is first necessary to consider if the factual matrix of the instant case are congruent with those giving rise to the decision relied upon. In her Opinion in Matzak Advocate General Sharpston, at par 10, recited the following facts set out in the order for reference by the referring court: -

Mr Rudy Matzak is a retained firefighter for the Ville de Nivelles (Town of Nivelles), Belgium.  Under the arrangements which apply to his engagement, he is required to be available on call for work, for one week out of every four, during the evenings and at the weekend. He is paid only in respect of time when he is on active service. Time spent on call without the firefighter being required to carry out any professional duties (so-called ‘stand-by time’) is unpaid.

Consequently, as is clear from this passage, reliance was placed in that case on a clearly discernible period of putative working time. In the instant case the complainant is contending that every hour of every day during which there is the possibility of him being called in to perform firefighting duties is to be regarded as working time. That is a significant and material difference in the factual matrix of the instant case and that in Matzak. Moreover, as is clear from the judgment of the CJEU Mr Matzak was obligated to remain at home during the period of stand-by. That is clear from question 4 in the order of reference, which was: -

Does Directive 2003/88 … prevent home-based on-call time from being regarded as working time when, although the on-call time is undertaken at the home of the worker, the constraints on him during the on-call time (such as the duty to respond to calls from his employer within 8 minutes) very significantly restrict the opportunities to undertake other activities?’

That question was answered by the Court, at par 67 of the judgment, in the following terms: -

Article 2 of Directive 2003/88 must be interpreted as meaning that stand-by time which a worker spends at home with the duty to respond to calls from his employer within 8 minutes, very significantly restricting the opportunities for other activities, must be regarded as ‘working time’.

It is, accordingly, clear that a key factor in that decision was the fact that Mr Matzak was required to spend the identified period of stand-by at his home.

In the instant case, there is no suggestion that the complainant spends the totality of the time contended for as working time at his home. That is manifestly not the case as during substantial portions of that time he in fact engaged as a full time Clerical Officer employed by a Government Department.

I note that in Matzak at pars 59 and 60 the CJEU pointed out as follows:

Furthermore, it is apparent from the case-law of the Court that the determining factor for the classification of 'working time’ within the meaning of Directive 2003 88, is the requirement that the worker be physically present at the place determined by the employer and to be available to the employer in order to be able to provide the appropriate services immediately in case of need. In fact, those obligations, which make it impossible for the workers concerned to choose the place where they stay during stand-by periods, must be regarded as coming within the ambit of the performance of their duties (see, to that effect, judgment of 9 September 2003, Jaeger, C-15//02, EU:C:2003:437, paragraph 63, and order of4 March 2011, Grigore, C-258 10, not published, EU:C:2011: 122, paragraph 53 and the case-law cited).

Finally, it must be observed that the situation is different where the worker performs a stand-by duty according to a stand-by system which requires that the worker be permanently accessible without being required to be present at the place of work. Even if he is at the disposal of his employer, since it must be possible to contact him, in that situation the worker may manage his time with fewer constraints and pursue his own interests. In those circumstances, only time linked to the actual provision of services must be regarded as 'working time', within the meaning of Directive 2003/88 (see, to that effect, judgment of 9 September 2003, Jaeger, C-151/02, EU:C:2003:437, paragraph 65 and the case-law cited). [Emphasis added]

I also note in Matzak at pars 63, 64 and 65 the CJEU stated as follows:

63. The obligation to remain physically present at the place determined by the employer and the geographical and temporal constraints resulting from the requirement to reach his place of work within 8 minutes are such as to objectively limit the opportunities which a worker in Mr. Matzak’s circumstances has to devote himself to his personal and social interests.

64. In the light of those constraints, Mr. Matzak’s situation differs from that of a worker who, during his standby duty, must simply be at his employer’s disposal inasmuch as it must be possible to contact him.

65. In those circumstances, it is necessary to interpret the concept of ‘working time’ provided for in Article 2 of Directive 2003/88 as applying to a situation in which a worker is obliged to spend stand-by time at his home, to be available there to his employer and to be able to reach his place of work within 8 minutes.

In the instant case, the complainant contends that he is working 144 hours every week by virtue of the fact that he is on call for 24 hours per day six days per week. The complainant is not required to remain at a physical place determined by the employer for the period of on-call. The complainant, although he must respond to an alert within five minutes, is also employed in another employment and can also be engaged in that activity while on call with the respondent. Once alerted the complainant can leave his other employment and attend the Fire Station. The complainant can also declare himself unavailable to attend up to 25% of alerts.

Having regard to the material factual difference between the instant case and the Matzak case, I am satisfied that the latter decision is clearly distinguishable and, accordingly, cannot avail the complainant in advancing his claims.

Conclusion

In all of the circumstances of this compliant and having considered the considerable differences between the complainant’s engagement with the respondent and the facts of the CJEU decision in Matzak, I find that the complainant’s period of on-call, does not meet the definition of working time. Accordingly, the complaints as submitted cannot succeed.

For the reasons stated above, I have not accepted the complainant’s arguments that the specifics of his employment are comparable to those described in the CJEU Decision in “Matzak”. As the time the complainant spends on call is not regarded as “working time”, I find that complaint application numbers CA-00027078-001, CA-00027078-002, CA-00027078-003, CA-00027078-004, CA-00027078-005, CA-00027078-006, CA-00027078-007 and CA-00027078-008 contained within are not well founded.

Retained Firefighter, On-call/Standby, Working Time, “Matzak”