Qantas breached the Fair Work Act by failing to pay personal carers leave and compassionate leave to employees stood down in response to the coronavirus pandemic, including one battling cancer and another awaiting triple bypass surgery, a court has heard.
Qantas Airways has repaid more than $7 million in underpayments and will make an additional $2 million in ‘apology’ payments to workers after self-reporting to the Fair Work Ombudsman that it incorrectly calculated the salary of hundreds of staff.
Qantas is facing a Fair Work Commission lawsuit by the Transport Workers’ Union after the airline suspended an aircraft cleaner who raised concerns about coronavirus risks.
The Australian Council of Trade Unions and seven other unions have launched legal action on behalf of 27,000 workers over an alleged “sham” bonus scheme designed to pressure staff into accepting a future enterprise agreement.