Qantas shares down after worker misconduct fine
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More news: Qantas shares dipped after the airliner was fined $250,000 for illegally standing down a worker during the pandemic. Shares were trading 1.4% lower at $5.05 by 2:30pm AEDT.
Qantas is due back in court later this month over the illegal outsourcing of more than 1,600 ground workers.
After a turbulent 12 months Australia's flag carrier's stock has fallen 23%.
Qantas fined $250k after illegally standing down worker
The news: Qantas has been fined $250,000 for illegally standing down a worker during the pandemic after he raised concerns about the risk of Covid-19 to staff who were cleaning aircraft coming from China.
The numbers: NSW District Court judge David Russell today fined the Qantas subsidiary Qantas Ground Services (QGS), that employed Theo Seremetidis at Sydney International Airport, $250,000 after finding that the conduct involved significant culpability and was deliberate rather than inadvertent.
Last week Qantas agreed to compensate lift truck driver Seremetidis $21,000, comprising $6,000 for economic loss arising from unlawful conduct, and $15,000 for non-economic loss for hurt and humiliation caused by the offence.
The context: Last year Russell ruled that the airline engaged in discriminatory conduct, accepting that Seremetidis was unfairly kept cut off from other staff who were seeking his help. Half of Qantas’ fine will be paid to Safework NSW, and the airline will also have to cover the legal costs.
Qantas is due back in court later this month over the illegal outsourcing of more than 1,600 ground workers.
What they said: Russell said: "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".
The source: NSW District Court
