Union calls for Board change Qantas after High Court defeat

Australia’s influential Transport Workers Union (TWU) is calling for a full replacement of the Qantas Board of Directors, following a High Court ruling on Wednesday. The Court upheld two earlier verdicts that said that the airline had illegally outsourced 1.700 ground staff during the Covid crisis in 2020. TWU holds the entire Board responsible for this and wants new CEO Vanessa Hudson to publicly apologize to the sacked workers. Union calls for Board change Qantas after High Court defeat

The High Court ruling comes one week after Hudson entered office as the new CEO following the earlier-than-expected retirement of her predecessor Alan Joyce

on September 4. Joyce has been held responsible for numerous operational problems at Qantas, which have severely tarnished the reputation of the airline amongst Australians. Joyce has planned to retire in November, with Hudson assigned as his successor in May.

“The Joyce regime has been toppled, but the airline cannot achieve the reset necessary for its survival under the same board that resided over the largest case of illegal sackings in Australian corporate history. Richard Goyder cannot make it through another day as Chair,” said TWU National Secretary Michael Kaine in a media statement. “Qantas needs a fresh start. A worker voice on the board would make a significant difference and send the right signal that Qantas is serious about getting back on track.” He also called for Joyce to be stripped of all bonuses, which could add up to $24 million until November.