Gloriavale granted leave to appeal employment case
The religious sect Gloriavale has won leave to appeal a key Employment Court decision over whether it needs to pay its followers.
The commune has long argued its members are volunteers.
But last year, it lost a case brought by six women, a judge finding they were employees and should be compensated for their work.
The case has the potential to affect all Gloriavale members, with the fight now heading to the Court of Appeal.
An earlier appeal saw Gloriavale declined leave to appeal on four questions of law. Submissions were invited on two other points that could have wider significance for religious or volunteer organisations, RNZ reported in December.
In a July 2023 judgment, Chief Judge Christina Inglis found Virginia Courage, Pearl Valor, Serenity Pilgrim, Rose Standtrue, Anna Courage and Crystal Loyal weren’t volunteers when they worked on teams while residents of the West Coast Christian community.
The Employment Court heard 10 weeks of evidence, and the case even saw the judge visit Gloriavale.
During the hearing, dozens of witnesses gave evidence including many former and current residents of the West Coast commune.
The court heard that most women work on teams cooking and cleaning, while others work in the classroom, the office, or the sewing room.
The working conditions of women were discussed in depth.
One of the plaintiffs claimed she was forced to work 90 hours a week and the court heard that those who refused to work had food withheld and were threatened with eternal damnation.
Gloriavale’s leaders rejected the claims through their lawyer, telling the court the women know what they sign up for.
Lawyer Phillip Skelton said the women of Gloriavale are not stupid.
“They’re not brainwashed, they’re not ignorant, they’re not uneducated.”
He said they chose to serve the 600-strong population by cooking, cleaning and washing for no pay.
he court also heard that the working conditions at Gloriavale had changed since the six plaintiffs left the community.
A later judgment ruled the Overseeing Shepherd at Gloriavale was the employer of the six women.