Unions to take Qantas to High Court over COVID-19 pandemic sick leave for workers
Posted
TueTuesday 22
updated
WedWednesday 23
DecDecember 2020 at 2:17am
The Qantas sick leave case could have far reaching consequences on whether other employers have to pay workers such entitlements.
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Unions representing Qantas workers will go to the High Court seeking to overturn a ruling that employees are not entitled to sick leave or compassionate leave while they were stood down during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Key points:
Qantas is being taken to the High Court by four unions on whether it must pay stood down airline workers sick leave
Qantas unions to take COVID-19 sick pay fight to High Court
Qantas unions to take COVID-19 sick pay fight to High Court
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Four unions representing Qantas workers will go to the High Court in an attempt to overturn a ruling that employees are not entitled to sick leave while stood down during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The court action is the third attempt by unions to force Qantas to pay sick, carers and compassionate leave to stood-down workers, with the full Federal Court last month ruling two-to-one in the airline s favour.
Unions representing Qantas workers will take the fight over sick leave entitlements to the High Court.
“One in 10 people in the Ipswich region work in manufacturing,” Mr Neumann said.
“I want to make sure our apprentices are highly skilled, with great classroom training at TAFE and on-the-job training and mentoring on great worksites.” KSB apprentices with Federal Member for Blair Shayne Neumann and Shadow Minister for Education and Training Tanya Plibersek.
Mr Neumann and Shadow Minister for Education and Training Tanya Plibersek visited KSB Australia’s Bundamba workshop and training facility, where the company tests, services and repairs its pumps and valves.
“KSB built this facility in Bundamba because they recognised the importance of the region in providing skilled workers,” Mr Neumann said.
Coles has locked out the workers, who are mostly older, after decades of service. The workers are campaigning for a better redundancy package and guarantees of jobs in other Coles workplaces for younger workers. The lock-out is part of Coles automatisation drive.
Earlier, a student-led climate rally marched to Hyde Park to show solidarity with the Coles’ workers.
“The Coles CEO received a 29% pay rise [this year], while the company sacks its long-term workers,” a United Workers Union (UWU) delegate told the crowd. “The mainstream media paint us as ‘greedy’, but we are only seeking to defend our jobs and conditions.