The Fair Work Ombudsman has launched prosecution action against the Transport Workers Union (TWU) over a strike by Qantas baggage handlers on March 30.
According to documents lodged with the Federal Court in Sydney, the Ombudsman alleges that the four hour snap strike was unlawful. The respondents, including the TWU and TWU Queensland, face fines of up to $33,000, while four union officials face individual fines of up to $6000. Qantas is also reportedly seeking up to $2 million in damages.
The March 30 strike took place at Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth airports in protest against a decision to outsource some work and Qantas’s security policies. The strike caused havoc across Qantas’s international and domestic network, and forced delays to the unloading of a number of international flights, particularly at Sydney Airport.
