The Wire

Last week, the High Court ruled Qantas had acted illegally when they sacked hundreds of workers during Covid-19.

When the pandemic brought the airline industry to a standstill, Qantas fired 17 HUNDRED ground staff – like baggage handlers and cleaners.

Then, the airline outsourced their jobs by using third-party companies, sometimes offering the staff they fired the same jobs but for less money or in a part-time capacity.

The full bench of the High Court found it breached the Fair Work Act, which opens the way for the workers to seek compensation.

Political reporter with National Radio News, Amanda Copp, spoke to federal Labor Senator and former Secretary of the Transport Workers Union, Tony Sheldon, about the decision.