Australia’s Transport Workers Union (TWU) is suing airline Qantas in the federal court over what it says is “the largest case of illegal sackings in Australia’s corporate history”, reports The Guardian. A court previously found Qantas contravened the Fair Work Act by its decision to outsource the roles of almost 1,700 ground staff at 10 Australian airports in late 2020. The airline fought the case all the way to the high court, but lost its appeal in September. Qantas previously claimed the outsourcing would save more than AUD 100 million (USD 65.6 million) a year to help cope with the impact of the pandemic on air travel.

The court heard today that some of the workers suffered significant psychological distress after losing their jobs and had to take medication to cope. The court will hear three test cases of dismissed workers to help determine an appropriate level of financial compensation. Qantas also faces the prospect of being issued multimillion-dollar penalties for breaching the law.

TWU national secretary Michael Kaine said the level of compensation could total more than AUD 100 million (USD 65.6 million), which would be paid to workers depending on their level of impact. Meanwhile, during today’s hearing, Justice Michael Lee blasted union lawyers for failing to bring another claim for compensation, for the loss of membership fees as the result of workers being let go, at the same time as the former employees’ case.

Qantas said it also wanted the former workers to receive “fair compensation as quickly as possible”. “Qantas sincerely apologises and deeply regrets the personal impact the outsourcing decision had on these former employees,” a spokesperson said in a statement.