SOURCE: AAP IMAGES
Qantas acted unlawfully when it outsourced 1,700 ground staff during COVID-19 lockdowns because it effectively prevented affected workers from taking industrial action, the High Court has ruled. The decision upholds two prior court decisions against the airline.
The carrier employed ramp operation, baggage, and cleaning staff at ten airports across Australia in 2020 while public health restrictions grounded flights and caused major losses for Qantas and competing airlines.
Qantas outsourced those roles to third-party contractors at the time, arguing it was a necessary business decision to mitigate the economic shock of the pandemic.
That argument was challenged by the Transport Workers Union, which claimed the airline had an ulterior motive for outsourcing those employees: avoiding the chance of its staff, many of whom were unionised, engaging in industrial action.
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