SYDNEY- Qantas (QF) group’s leadership has faced strong criticism following the airline’s conviction for illegally firing an employee who raised safety concerns during COVID.
On Wednesday (March 6, 2024), Judge David Russell at the Downing Centre District Court ordered the national airline to pay $250,000 for its actions against Theo Seremetidis.
Qantas Fined $250K
Mr. Seremetidis, a lift truck driver with Qantas Ground Services, was suspended from his position in February 2020 after instructing his colleagues to cease unsafe work. In his role as the elected health and safety representative, he expressed concerns about the potential exposure to Covid for employees responsible for cleaning aircraft arriving from China.
Justice Russell remarked on Wednesday that the conduct of Qantas Ground Services towards Mr. Seremetidis was deemed “quite shameful.”
“Even during his suspension and ongoing investigation, QGS made efforts to fabricate additional justifications for its actions,” remarked Justice Russell. He characterized Qantas’ conduct as intentional, driven by its commercial interests, and acknowledged its “discriminatory” nature.
Justice Russell highlighted the significant power imbalance between senior managers at QGS and Mr. Seremetidis, who was a part-time employee earning a modest wage. He emphasized that not only should QGS have been aware of the potentially discriminatory nature of its actions, but it was explicitly brought to their attention.
Last year, Justice Russell declared that Qantas had participated in “discriminatory conduct” when it violated workplace health and safety laws by suspending Mr. Seremetidis.
Of the $250,000 fine imposed, half will be directed to the prosecution, and Qantas is additionally instructed to cover the costs incurred by Safe Work NSW during the investigation.
Furthermore, the airline is mandated to compensate Mr. Seremetidis with an additional $21,000 to address the economic loss and the “hurt and humiliation” he experienced due to the airline’s unlawful actions within a 28-day period.
Employee Comments
Outside the courtroom, Mr. Seremetidis shared his experience of “living in fear” since his suspension in 2020 and expressed that the outcome on Wednesday allowed him to “finally move on.”
“I couldn’t be any happier today; it’s the best result we could have had. I’m very content with the conviction,” Mr. Seremetidis stated.
He emphasized that, in his opinion, conviction is the crucial factor that will serve as a deterrent for Qantas and other companies in the future, preventing them from engaging in similar actions.
Airline Remarks
In a statement, Qantas expressed acceptance of the court-imposed penalty and emphasized encouraging employees to report all safety-related concerns. The statement further noted that last week, the airline reached an agreement for compensation with Theo Seremetidis, and the court has now issued orders to pay that compensation.
The statement also highlighted the acknowledgment made in court regarding the impact of the incident on Mr. Seremetidis, accompanied by an apology. Qantas reiterated its unwavering commitment to safety, emphasizing it as the top priority and continuing to urge employees to report any safety-related matters.
Prosecutor Matthew Moir argued earlier that Qantas should also face a substantial fine, contending that the airline had prioritized its commercial interests over the safety of its employees.
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