Australian airlines thought they could escape by laying off staff during Covid Crisis. Credit: Karolis Kavolelis/Shutterstock
An Australian court has fined records on the airline’s giant Qantas, recording $90 million (£43 million, $59 million) for illegally firing at least 1,800 ground workers during the community pandemic. The Australian Transport Workers Union said it welcomed the punishment. This said the courts are the largest for violations of the industrial relations law in the country’s history.
“We sincerely apologize to our 1,820 ground-handling employees and their families suffering as a result,” said Qantas Group CEO Vanessa Hudson. “Five years ago, the decision to outsource, especially during such uncertain times, has created real challenges for many of our previous teams and their families.” Australia’s largest airline has fought years of court battles in 2020 due to its decision to outsource ground operations staff. At the time, Aircarrier argued that it was an inevitable fiscal measure as the aviation industry stagnated.
The decision marked “the end of the five-year battle between David and Goliath,” and was “a moment of justice for the loyal workers who loved working for the airline,” the Transportation Union said in a statement. It has been reported. Federal Court Judge Michael Lee said in his ruling that he hoped the fines would serve as a “real deterrence” for other employers, discouraging them from believing that such measures could be “run away.”
It may not be big enough
However, it may not be big enough to stop other companies from doing the same, as airlines may have saved even more money by outsourcing staff during the pandemic. “If it is not considered sufficient deterrence, the government may face a call to increase penalties,” he added. After the decision, TWU’s national secretary Michael Cain said, “For all the possibilities, we took on the giants… it showed ourselves to be ruthless and won.”
