Qantas wins the right not to pay staff sick pay while they are stood down during the COVID-19 pandemic
- The Federal Court decided that Qantas employees should not receive sick pay
- They determined the outcome as there is no work for staff to be absent from
- Qantas stood down 20,000 staff in March due to the coronavirus pandemic
- The Transport Workers Union pledged to appeal against the court's decision
- Here’s how to help people impacted by Covid-19
Qantas has won the right to not give sick pay to staff who were stood down through the coronavirus pandemic.
The Transport Workers Union have pledged to appeal against the Federal Court's decision, which they believe is unfair for staff.
'The ruling is bitterly disappointing for Qantas workers battling serious illnesses and their families,' TWU National Secretary Michael Kaine said, as reported by 9News.
Qantas stood down two-thirds of its workforce totalling 20,000 employees in March due to travel restrictions from COVID-19 and announced that sick/carer's leave will not apply during the stand down period.
Qantas has won the right to not give sick pay to staff who were stood down during the coronavirus pandemic. Pictured: Qantas planes at Sydney airport on April 30
Among those affected include a cancer patient and another awaiting surgery for a triple bypass. Both have worked for Qantas for more than 30 years.
Australian Workers' Union National Secretary Dan Walton said the airline should be ashamed of themselves.
'It is absolutely shameful that during this crisis Qantas is putting corporate greed over worker welfare and refusing to let its workers access their sick leave,' he said.
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The TWU claimed the airline is in breach of Fair Work Act provisions and urged Qantas to reconsider the 'heartless' move.
'It is an utter disgrace that Qantas workers, some of whom have worked with the company for several decades and are now battling very serious illnesses, have been refused sick leave in this way,' Mr Kaine said.
'They will struggle financially and this will pile pressures and stress on them and their families, making it more difficult for them to focus on getting better.'
The Qantas domestic terminal at Melbourne International Airport is empty during the coronavirus pandemic on April 21
The TWU has accused Qantas of treating staff like expendable cogs in its machine and raised questions over their adoption of safety measures for staff and customers during the pandemic.
'It refused to listen to worker concerns about the spread of the COVID-19, even suspending a worker in Sydney, and has allowed several clusters to spread,' Mr Kaine said.
A Qantas spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia Qantas employees can still access annual leave, long service leave and other support including the Government’s JobKeeper payments.
'The Court has confirmed that employees who are stood down are not eligible to receive paid sick leave because there is no work to be absent from,' they said.
The Federal Court found Qantas employees should not receive sick pay as there is no work to be absent from. Pictured: A Qantas flight attendant with customers in Sydney airport in March
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