Sacked photographer back in job

The Employment Relations Authority has ordered Fairfax NZ to reinstate a photographer sacked from an Auckland community newspaper and pay her compensation.

Authority member Dzintra King ruled that Marcia Jessen's dismissal from the Manukau Courier in December was unjustified. Fairfax had said - among other things - that she made derogatory remarks about the editor of the Western Leader and its staff.

Ms King said Jessen's actions did not deeply impair or destroy the basic trust and confidence essential to an employment relationship.

Jessen said she was willing to make a fresh start and could "improve and learn as a colleague".

Fairfax was ordered to pay more than $14,400 in lost earnings and $4000 compensation for "hurt and humiliation", with those remedies to be cut by 20% because of Jessen's behaviour towards colleagues.