Spijkers v Gebroeders Benedik Abattoir CV

1986 Dutch/EU labour law
Spijkers v Gebroeders Benedik Abattoir CV
CourtEuropean Court of Justice
Citation(s)(1986) C-24/85, [1986] ECR 1119
Keywords
Transfer of undertakings

Spijkers v Gebroeders Benedik Abattoir CV (1986) C-24/85 is a Dutch and EU labour law case concerning transfers of undertakings, and the job security rights of employees.

Facts

Mr Spijkers worked for a slaughterhouse owned by Colaris in Ubach over Worms. They transferred the business to Benedik in December, and only he and another were not retained. Operations ceased in December 1982, and Colaris was insolvent by March 1983. Good will and customers had already disappeared.

Attorney General Slynn gave an opinion before the court decision. He said the ‘essential question is whether the transferee is put in a position, as a result of a legal transfer, whereby he can carry on the undertaking or business or part thereof.’

Judgment

The European Court of Justice held that the "decisive question… is whether the entity in question retains its identity".[1] This means a whole range of factors, including customers, goodwill, buildings, tangible assets and employees should be considered. Sale of assets (means of production, as argued by Mr Spijkers) is not necessarily enough by itself. One should ask, is the business "disposed of as a going concern?"[2]

See also

  • v
  • t
  • e
Transfer of undertaking sources
Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Emp) Regs 2006 r 7
Wilson v St Helens BC [1998] UKHL 37
TUD 2001 art 5 and TUPER 2006 r 4
Credit Suisse Ltd v Lister [1998] EWCA Civ 1551
TUD 2001 arts 3(3) and TUPER 2006 r 5
TUD 2001 arts 1 and TUPER 2006 r 3
Spijkers v Gebroeders Benedik Abattoir CV (1986) C-24/85
RCO Support Services v Unison [2002] EWCA Civ 464
TUD 2001 art 5 and TUPER 2006 r 8
Oakland v Wellswood (Yorkshire) Ltd [2009] EWCA Civ 1094
see UK labour law and business transfers

References

  1. ^ (1986) C-24/85, [11]
  2. ^ (1986) C-24/85, [15]