CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Qantas Airways lost its challenge to a court ruling on Wednesday that the Australian flag carrier had illegally fired 1,700 baggage handlers, cleaners and other ground staff at the height of pandemic travel disruptions.
Seven High Court judges unanimously rejected Qantas’ appeal against a Federal Court full-bench decision.
That court upheld a Federal Court judge’s ruling that the sacking of Qantas staff at 10 Australian airports in 2020 was illegal.
Australian Competition and Consumer Commission initiated the Federal Court lawsuit two weeks ago for what it considers Australia’s most serious-ever breach of consumer law.
As travel has ramped up, outsourcing of Qantas jobs has been blamed for a slew of problems including high rates of lost and mishandled luggage.
Persons:
Alan Joyce, Michael Kaine, Kaine, Vanessa Hudson, ” Kaine
Organizations:
— Qantas Airways, Australian, Qantas, Federal, Competition, Consumer Commission, Court, Transport Workers ’ Union, Federal Court
Locations:
CANBERRA, Australia, Sydney