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Matthews and others v Kent and Medway Towns Fire Authority and others: CA 2 Jul 2004

Part time retained firefighters claimed discrimination under the Regulations when their conditions of service were compared with those of full-time firefighters. They appealed a finding that they had been employed under different types of contract and that therefore no claim arose. Held: There was insufficient reason to treat the retained firefighters as being employed under … Continue reading Matthews and others v Kent and Medway Towns Fire Authority and others: CA 2 Jul 2004

Matthews and others v Kent and Medway Towns and Fire Authority and others: HL 1 Mar 2006

Retained or part-time firefighters sought parity of working conditions with full time firefighters. Held: The retained firefighters’ appeal succeeded (Lords Carswell and Mance dissenting). The test was whether the part-time and full time workers had substantially similar contract and did substantially similar work. What was meant by similarity in this case had to be tested … Continue reading Matthews and others v Kent and Medway Towns and Fire Authority and others: HL 1 Mar 2006

O’Brien v Ministry of Justice: SC 12 Jul 2017

The claimant challenged e pension arrangements made for part time judges. Held: ‘The majority of the court are inclined to think that the effect of Directive 97/81 is that it is unlawful to discriminate against part-time workers when a retirement pension falls due for payment. The directive applies ratione temporis where the pension falls due … Continue reading O’Brien v Ministry of Justice: SC 12 Jul 2017

O’Brien v Ministry of Justice and Others: CA 6 Oct 2015

The claimants each sought additional pensions, saying that discrimination laws which had come into effect (for part time workers and for sexual orientation) should be applied retrospectively. Held: The decision was upheld. The ‘no retroactivity’ principle of EU law was ‘that EU legislation does not have retroactive effect unless, exceptionally, it is clear from its … Continue reading O’Brien v Ministry of Justice and Others: CA 6 Oct 2015

O’Brien v Ministry of Justice: SC 6 Feb 2013

The appellant, a part time recorder challenged his exclusion from pension arrangements. Held: The appeal was allowed. No objective justification has been shown for departing from the basic principle of remunerating part-timers pro rata temporis. ‘The reality is that recorders are expected to observe the terms and conditions of their appointment, and that they may … Continue reading O’Brien v Ministry of Justice: SC 6 Feb 2013

O’Brien v Ministry of Justice: SC 28 Jul 2010

The appellant had worked as a part time judge. He now said that he should be entitled to a judicial pension on retirement by means of the Framework Directive. The Regulations disapplied the provisions protecting part time workers for judicial office holders paid on a daily fee-paid basis. Held: The matter required to be referred … Continue reading O’Brien v Ministry of Justice: SC 28 Jul 2010

Wippel v Peek and Cloppenburg GmbH and Co. KG: ECJ 12 Oct 2004

ECJ Opinion – Directive 97/81/EC – Directive 76/207/EEC – Social policy – Equal treatment as between part-time and full-time workers – Equal treatment as between male and female workers – Working hours and organisation of working-time.A part-time worker was engaged under a framework contract of employment which lasted in the event from October 1998 to … Continue reading Wippel v Peek and Cloppenburg GmbH and Co. KG: ECJ 12 Oct 2004

Percy v Church of Scotland Board of National Mission: HL 15 Dec 2005

The claimant appealed after her claim for sex discrimination had failed. She had been dismissed from her position an associate minister of the church. The court had found that it had no jurisdiction, saying that her appointment was not an employment. However the jurisdiction in sex discrimination cases was wider, extending to those who ‘contract … Continue reading Percy v Church of Scotland Board of National Mission: HL 15 Dec 2005