Unlawfully sacked Qantas workers to wait almost six years for compensation
The saga of Qantas workers who were unlawfully sacked continues, with a new delay in the compensation process. More than 1800 former employees, who were let go over five years ago, are now facing an even longer wait to receive their rightful $160 million in compensation. This delay comes as the law firm managing the case, Maurice Blackburn, requests more time to finalize the compensation amounts.
The workers, who have endured periods of unemployment and trauma, were initially promised a resolution by Federal Court Justice Michael Lee's deadline of July 31. However, Maurice Blackburn has now notified the affected workers that it will seek to push back this key milestone to at least October. This means the workers will have waited almost six years since the layoffs were announced for their full compensation.
In an email to the workers, Maurice Blackburn cited the complexity of the scheme and the need to finalise individual compensation amounts as the reason for the delay. The firm is working to determine how much each worker is owed from the $120 million pool of compensation. This process involves calculating economic and non-economic losses separately, with the collection of economic loss data already complete.
The delay has caused frustration among the workers, who have planned and organised their lives around the expected payments. Tony Mora, a former truck driver and cabin cleaner, expressed his disappointment, stating that the news from Maurice Blackburn was 'the latest jab in the heart'. He and others had planned significant events and taken out loans, relying on the compensation payments to coincide with these arrangements.
The situation has also led to complaints from some ex-employees, such as Ryan, who believes that the compensation should have been divided equally among all those involved. Ryan's complaint to the Office of the NSW Legal Services Commissioner highlights the perceived lack of empathy and care from Maurice Blackburn, despite their claims of attention to detail and individualised support.
The Transport Workers Union, which funded the case, has expressed a desire to expedite payments while maintaining the integrity of the process. The union's national secretary, Michael Kaine, emphasises the importance of a fair and efficient resolution for the workers.
The delay in compensation is a result of the ongoing complexity of the scheme and the time required to assess each worker's situation fairly and reasonably. Maurice Blackburn has involved approximately 40 people, including employees and external experts, in the process. They have provided individualised support to around 1000 claimants to help them locate and produce relevant documents.
This case highlights the challenges and delays that can arise in class-action compensation processes, particularly when dealing with large numbers of individuals and complex legal procedures. The workers' patience and perseverance are commendable, and it is crucial that the compensation process is handled with the utmost care and transparency to ensure a fair outcome for all involved.
