‘An insult to his culture’: Italian chef sacked for not putting pineapple on pizza loses bid to get job back
Summary
Australia’s Fair Work Commission dismissed Italian chef Davide Tamburella’s application challenging his dismissal from La Costa, saying he filed it too late and did not show exceptional circumstances. The restaurant said the dispute followed his refusal to make ham-and-pineapple pizzas for a large function; La Costa later closed when its lease expired.Key Facts
- La Costa dismissed Tamburella on May 20, after a meeting about performance concerns.
- The Fair Work Commission heard that Tamburella had refused three times to make ham-and-pineapple pizza, saying it was an insult to his culture.
- Restaurant owner Elliot Ingram said a customer at a function spending more than A$15,000 requested the pizzas.
- Tamburella alleged his dismissal was partly linked to a workplace injury in which he fractured his right hand in two places.
- Commissioner Jennifer Hunt dismissed Tamburella’s application because it was filed late and did not meet the test for exceptional circumstances.
- Tamburella was more than three years into an employer-sponsored permanent-residency visa process when his job ended.
- La Costa closed in July after its lease expired; Ingram cited the high cost of doing business.
- Tamburella now works at another Italian restaurant, whose menu does not list pineapple pizza.
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