Qantas fined $90 million for 'illegal' sacking of over 1800 employees

Australian airline has been ordered to pay a penalty of $90 million for what has been dubbed the largest case of 'illegal' sackings in the country's history. Qantas outsourced more than 1,800 baggage handlers, cleaners and ground staff in 2020, in a move the Federal Court ruled was designed to curb union bargaining power in wage negotiations. Qantas Group Chief Executive Officer Vanessa Hudson said “We sincerely apologise to each and every one of the 1,820 ground handling employees and to their families who suffered as a result."