Qantas officially files appeal in ongoing outsourcing case

Qantas has filed an application for leave to appeal in its ongoing court battle with the TWU over the dismissal of more than 2,000 ground handlers whose roles were outsourced. The union said the airline’s move was simply a delaying tactic and it would fight on. In July, the Federal Court ruled Qantas had violated the Fair Work Act in making the redundancies and largely found in favour of the TWU, which claimed the decision to outsource employees was done in part to prevent them from being able to negotiate a new enterprise agreement and take industrial action. Qantas has consistently denied it has done anything unlawful. The airline has highlighted that it was “actively recruiting” into its ground handling business and “investing in new equipment” before the COVID-19 pandemic hit, signalling it had no intention to outsource these workers prior. The TWU said Qantas’ appeal is merely a tactic to “delay remedy hearings for reinstatement and compensation of the unlawfully sacked workers”. The union has said it will fight the appeal.<br/>