Italian chef fired in Brisbane for refusing to use pineapple on pizza
Davide Tamburella lost his unfair dismissal claim after the Fair Work Commission ruled his application was filed too late.
An Italian chef was dismissed from the now-closed La Costa restaurant in Brisbane this May after refusing to prepare ham and pineapple pizzas for a function. According to reports from BBC News, India Today, and Hindustan Times, Davide Tamburella claimed that adding the fruit to pizza was an insult to his culture.
The Fair Work Commission noted in a ruling released on Tuesday that this was the third time in four years the chef had refused to use the topping. Tamburella had previously asked his employer to verify the cultural importance of excluding pineapple from Italian pizza.
Management had raised several other concerns regarding the chef, including his communication style, the use of foul language, and the escalation of frustration in the workplace. The commission also noted an incident in April where Tamburella fractured bones in his right hand after hitting a metal handrail.
The chef had sought a visa sponsorship from the restaurant to become a permanent resident, but the process was ended following his sacking. Tamburella alleged his dismissal was linked to his workplace injury, but his unfair dismissal claim was rejected because it was filed after the required deadline.
La Costa managing director Elliot Ingram suggested to the Daily Mail that the dispute involved more than just pizza toppings. Tamburella is currently working at another Brisbane restaurant, where pineapple does not appear on the menu.