Qantas guilty over dismissal of health and safety worker who raised fears over clean planes ahead of pandemic

Qantas has been found guilty of a criminal charge for unlawfully dismissing and punishing a health and safety officer ahead of the pandemic, which unions claims is another stain on former chief executive Alan Joyce’s legacy. A NSW district court on Thursday found the airline breached workplace safety law by dismissing ground worker Theo Seremetidis — who had raised concerns that workers were unsafe when cleaning planes returning from China — in February 2020. Mr Seremetidis had made a direction as the health and safety officer for workers to stop cleaning the planes due to the infection risk. His dismissal was before the pandemic was established and full PPE rules were mandated. A SafeWork inspection at a later date confirmed workers had been made to clean multiple tray tables with only water and a rag. Justice David Russell said Qantas Ground Services (QGC) was guilty of the principle criminal charge of unlawful dismissal, but rejected allegations the airline had made direct threats against Mr Seremetidis. “I formed the view that he attempted to carry out his duties as a health and safety representative conscientiously and carefully,” Justice Russell said in his judgment. “QGS engaged in discriminatory conduct … and that conduct was engaged in for a prohibited reason, as it was engaged in because Mr Seremetidis had exercised the power or performed to function as a health and safety representative” Transport Workers Union president of the NSW and Queensland branch, Richard Olsen, said the decision had further tarnished Qantas’ reputation by “ignoring” the welfare of employees. “Qantas not only ignored the concerns of Theo and his colleagues, but set out to punish and silence him for acting in his role as a highly trained HSR,” he said Speaking outside the courtroom, Mr Seremetidis said large companies like Qantas need to be held to account, claiming he felt targeted and open to attacks from the airline for being a health and safety officer. “I feel I have been targeted the whole time,” he said. “I was doing what I thought was the right thing and I have been punished for it. They would punish someone rather than actually rectify the issue.” TWU national secretary Michael Kaine said Qantas’ response following the verdict would show if the airline had turned over a “new leaf” and if newly-minted boss Vanessa Hudson was genuine about improving the airline for customers and employees. Mr Seremetidis was directed not to work from February 2, 2020 onwards while an investigation was under way. He was then stood down at the start of the pandemic before subsequently being made redundant as part of the 1700 ground service workers who were illegally sacked by the airline. Qantas acknowledged the findings of the court and said it would review the judgment before commenting further. “We recognise that the initial stages of the pandemic caused a lot of uncertainty for our people, customers and the business more broadly,” Qantas said in a statement “Our medical and safety teams worked tirelessly to provide daily updates to employees and to put effective controls and procedures in place to help protect our people and customers.” The airline rejects claims proper protective wear was not provided to staff. Sentencing and costs have been scheduled for a later date. Either side are yet to say whether they will appeal the verdict.