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Qantas’ chief people officer has issued an extraordinary public apology in the Federal Court for the airline’s decision to illegally outsource more than 1,700 roles mid-COVID-19.
Catherine Walsh’s declaration that the carrier was “in the wrong” and “deeply sorry” comes despite Qantas repeatedly appealing the original decision and compensation fee amount in a case that dragged on for years.
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“We hope we can get to the stage where there can be some finality for them in this,” Walsh said.
Qantas was appearing in court to begin the proceedings to decide its penalty for outsourcing ground staff, a move that was subsequently ruled as having broken the law.
The initial decision to sack staff was taken in 2020, but it was only until late last year that the company finally agreed to set up a $120 million compensation fund.
Taking to the stand, Walsh admitted the years-long process for former employees was “no doubt tiring”.
“I want to reinforce that we are deeply sorry, and we apologise for the impact on the workers, the TWU (Transport Workers Union), to the court for their time and to the family and friends that felt the impacts, we are deeply sorry,” she said.
Walsh’s remarks go further than those previously issued via a statement in October last year, where new chief executive Vanessa Hudson said the airline wanted to sincerely apologise to former employees “who were impacted by this decision”.
Before the start of the hearing, the TWU called for the airline to be fined a maximum of $121 million, in addition to the $120 million in compensation it’s required to pay.
“Not only was it an appalling act to get rid of a loyal workforce, it was the biggest case of illegal sackings in Australian corporate history,” Michael Kaine, national secretary of the TWU, said.
“The penalty to Qantas must reflect this and send a message to every other company in Australia that you cannot sack your workers to prevent them from using their industrial rights.
“Over 1800 loyal Qantas workers will never get their jobs back after working at the airline for decades.
“Though they are now receiving compensation, it cannot make up for the last four gruelling years have seen relationship breakdowns, mental anguish and financial burden.”
Qantas earlier argued it had no choice but to remove the roles due to the uncertainty of COVID-19 and a potential $100 million a year cost savings the move could bring.
It meant the carrier removed operations at the 10 Australian airports where the work was done in-house, which included Adelaide, Alice Springs, Brisbane, Cairns, Canberra, Darwin, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney and Townsville.
However, following a High Court ruling, it eventually agreed to set up a fund, which Maurice Blackburn Lawyers administer on behalf of the TWU to compensate the 1,820 affected workers.
The final figure includes the approximately 1,700 workers who lost their jobs, and around 120 who were redeployed within Qantas and suffered non-economic losses.
According to Qantas, the fund will pay workers directly, with compensation amounts covering both economic and non-economic loss, as well as compensation to the TWU and any costs incurred in managing the distribution.
The hearing before Justice Michael Lee continues.
