The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission said competition by smaller airlines was essential ‘now, more than ever’ as the airline industry undergoes a major upheaval due to the coronavirus and the administration of Virgin Airlines, and vowed to continue its probe of Qantas’ 19.9 per cent stake in Alliance Airlines.
A judge has granted Qantas an injunction temporarily blocking the Fair Work Commission from hearing a case brought by the union for the airline’s stood-down aircraft maintenance engineers, saying the issues raised in the case had potentially wide ramifications for all Australian businesses amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Airlines could be the first targets of an anticipated COVID-19 class action blitz, with a major law firm threatening litigation against Qantas, Jetstar and other travel providers for compensating customers on shuttered flights with vouchers instead of full refunds.
A former customer service manager for Qantas who claims to suffer from severe depression and anxiety has brought allegations of disability discrimination against Maurice Blackburn, claiming the law firm put pressure on her to settle her workers compensation case against the airline.
Qantas breached the Fair Work Act by failing to pay personal carers leave and compassionate leave to employees stood down in response to the coronavirus pandemic, including one battling cancer and another awaiting triple bypass surgery, a court has heard.
Qantas Airways has repaid more than $7 million in underpayments and will make an additional $2 million in ‘apology’ payments to workers after self-reporting to the Fair Work Ombudsman that it incorrectly calculated the salary of hundreds of staff.
Qantas is facing a Fair Work Commission lawsuit by the Transport Workers’ Union after the airline suspended an aircraft cleaner who raised concerns about coronavirus risks.
The Australian Council of Trade Unions and seven other unions have launched legal action on behalf of 27,000 workers over an alleged “sham” bonus scheme designed to pressure staff into accepting a future enterprise agreement.