Qantas Faces $250,000 Fine for Suspending Employee Worried About COVID-19
The employee’s stand-down occurred following safety concerns raised about the potential spread of COVID-19 from planes arriving from China.
Qantas, a major Australian airline, was fined $250,000 for suspending a worker who was an elected health and safety representative. The worker had raised concerns regarding the risk of COVID-19 to staff cleaning planes arriving from China. The judge described this action as “shameful.”
The worker, Theo Seremetidis, worked as a lift truck driver for Qantas Ground Services (QGS) at Sydney International Airport. He had been with Qantas for nearly seven years before being sidelined in early 2020.
Last year, Judge David Russell of the NSW District Court found that Qantas engaged in discriminatory conduct by unfairly isolating Mr. Seremetidis from other staff seeking his assistance.
Judge Russell stated, “The conduct against Mr. Seremetidis was quite shameful. Even when he was stood down and under investigation, QGS attempted to manufacture additional reasons for its actions.”
Last week, Qantas agreed to compensate Mr. Seremetidis with $21,000 for economic and non-economic losses.
Safety Concerns a ‘Threat’ to Qantas’ Business
On March 6, Judge Russell ordered QGS to be convicted and fined $250,000, noting that the company’s behavior was deliberate and involved significant culpability. The judge highlighted the “gross power imbalance” between Mr. Seremetidis and senior managers at QGS.
Mr. Seremetidis was diligent in his role as a health and safety representative, keeping abreast of pandemic updates and conducting research even on his day off.
Judge Russell emphasized the importance of health and safety representatives in protecting workers and ensuring smooth business operations. QGS viewed Mr. Seremetidis’s directives to cease unsafe work as a threat to their operations, particularly in cleaning and servicing aircraft.
During the hearing, Qantas claimed they took action due to Mr. Seremetidis causing anxiety among the workforce.
Qantas issued an apology and acknowledged the penalties, expressing regret for the impact on Mr. Seremetidis and emphasizing safety as their top priority.
SafeWork NSW, responsible for filing charges against Qantas, will receive half of the fine.
Union representative Richard Olsen commended Mr. Seremetidis for defending himself and his colleagues, despite facing ridicule. He stated that the court’s decision raises concerns about the legacy of former CEO Alan Joyce.
“We need to reset this company,” Olsen concluded.
