Qantas set a fine on illegal demobilization during the epidemic

Australian court has fined Qantas giant airline with 90 million dollars (43 million pounds; $ 59 million) to dismiss more than 1,800 years During the Covid-19 epidemic.

The Australia Transport Workers Union said it welcomes the punishment, and it is the largest imposed by a court due to violations of the laws of industrial relations in the country’s history.

Federal Court judge Michael Lee said in the ruling that he wanted to work as a “real deterrence” for other employers.

The airline said in a statement that it had agreed to pay the fine and that the ruling holds the responsibility of the measures that caused “real harm” to its employees.

“We are sincerely apologized to each of the 1820 ground handling employees and their families who have suffered as a result,” said Vanessa Hudson, CEO of the Gantas Group.

“The decision to use external sources five years ago, especially during such an uncertain time, caused a real hardship for many of our former team and their families.”

The fine is the largest financial penalty issued by an Australian company under the fair labor law, which determines the rules of workers and employees.

The largest airline in Australia has faced a one -year legal battle over its decision in 2020 with the help of external sources of ground operations employees, which it said was a necessary financial measure because the aviation industry had stopped during the epidemic.

The court ordered the court to pay 50 million dollars directly to the Transport Workers Union, which filed a lawsuit against the airline on the demobilization of workers.

The Transport Federation said in a statement that the decision represents “the end of the battle of David and Goliath for a period of five years”, which is “the moment of justice for loyal workers who loved their jobs in the airline.”

The fine is close to the maximum penalty that can be imposed to violate the laws of the workplace in Australia.

The judge told me that the fine aims to discourage other large companies from thinking that they could “escape” from such moves, even if they believe that the benefits may deserve the risk of wrap.

In court documents, the judge is me Cantas Culture interrogated And whether the company’s remorse is real.

He pointed out that the “continuous and aggressive” legal strategy as a sign of efforts to avoid paying any compensation to the workers who previously said that they felt sorry.

In 2021, the court found that Kantas had partially prepared its working power to limit the industrial measures of workers. Many of the axis workers were members of the union.

The Qantas penalty at the head of $ 120 million of compensation approved by the airline to pay the workers in 2024, after losing the multiple appeal in the court.

Dan Trend, an employee of the Employment Law from the Clayton Ottz legal company, said that it may not be large enough to deter other companies from doing the same, as the airline has provided more money by using external sources of its employees during the epidemic.

“If it is not seen as sufficient deterrence, the government may face calls to increase the sanctions.”

Illegal bags have been among the many scandals that included the airline in recent years. Last year, Qantas was ordered to pay $ 100 million for Selling tickets on thousands of flights He has already decided to cancel.