Ex-staffer fighting SPCA on job loss

Long-serving chief executive Bob Kerridge stood down in September to begin a new role as SPCA executive director. Photo / Brett Phibbs

The SPCA is locked in an employment dispute involving a senior inspector who says his animal welfare bosses made him redundant because of a personal vendetta.

The stoush is heading to the Employment Relations Authority after David Lloyd-Barker, the former inspector manager and general manager of SPCA Auckland, was made redundant last month when the charity disestablished both roles.

The SPCA says the two management positions are no longer needed. Barrister Paul Wicks said the ERA claims would be vigorously defended.

But Mr Lloyd-Barker says the redundancy is a "sham" and is seeking to be reinstated on the grounds of unjustified dismissal.

"I have consistently overachieved and represented the SPCA in good faith and with professionalism. I was called on to cut costs and increase prosecutions. This I did saving the [SPCA] some $800,000 approximately and increasing prosecutions by 400 per cent year on year," his affidavit said.

It details events from when long-serving chief executive Bob Kerridge stood down in September to begin a new role as SPCA executive director.

During the search for a new chief executive, Mr Lloyd-Barker says he was running the organisation without any increase in salary and applied for the job at the "insistence" of SPCA chairman Gordon Trainer in January.

He offered to merge the CEO role with his current duties as general manager, but Mr Trainer said the charity needed both positions.

He was unsuccessful in his bid, with one board member on the interview panel failing to show up. Six months after Mr Kerridge started his new role, Mr Lloyd-Barker says he wrote to the SPCA board "questioning the logic" of hiring another senior manager on a six-figure salary during a recession when donations were down. He pointed out the board had instructed a pay and hiring freeze for staff.

Tracy Dunn, another senior SPCA staffer, echoed his concerns in a second letter a few days later. Staff morale was deteriorating and the pay freeze was an "insult to injury".

"I believe that many staff, at a stretch, understand and possibly accept that the economic situation dictates no pay review will be offered this year. I can categorically state that if the same announcement is made with the ensuing appointment of a new CEO and the associated substantial salary package, it will cause a huge fallout from a staffing perspective and quality staff will be lost," she wrote in March.

"My opinion as operations manager is that the appointment of a new CEO at this time would be a serious mistake and I fully agree that the board should consider deferring this appointment until a healthier economic climate has been achieved," Ms Dunn wrote.

A few days later, barrister Jo Wickliffe - an experienced criminal lawyer who prosecuted animal abuse on behalf of the SPCA mostly pro bono - also sent an email to the board questioning the need for another senior manager.

She told the Weekend Herald that the SPCA had not told its "devoted supporters the whole story".

Although Mr Kerridge was semi-retired, Ms Wickliffe said the SPCA kept him on at full pay with a car, as well as hiring a new CEO at a six-figure salary and a car to replace Mr Kerridge. "David Lloyd-Barker offered to incorporate the CEO job into his other role, I firmly believe he was motivated to save the society valuable dollars. Now the society has a top-heavy, well-paid management structure, while their other loyal employees are struggling to make ends meet."

Ms Wickliffe said SPCA supporters needed to know that Mr Lloyd- Barker was "extremely committed" to animal welfare and motivated to cut costs.

A written warning was issued to Mr Lloyd-Barker for allegedly breaking a confidentiality clause in his contract; he in turn lodged a personal grievance.

Shortly afterwards Mr Lloyd-Barker was told both positions he held were to be disestablished.

Mr Kerridge, who led the SPCA for more than 25 years, Mr Trainer and new chief executive Garth Halliday declined to comment.

THE DISPUTE

Sept 2008: Bob Kerridge resigns as SPCA chief executive after 25 years, starts new role as executive director.
Jan 2009: General manager David Lloyd-Barker applies to merge CEO role with his own but is unsuccessful.
March 2009: He writes to SPCA board questioning why the charity is offering a six-figure salary for CEO when budget cuts have been ordered. New chief executive Garth Halliday appointed.
April 2009: Written warning given to Mr Lloyd-Barker for allegedly breaching confidentiality. He files personal grievance.
June 2009: Mr Lloyd-Barker made redundant when SPCA disestablishes both roles