QANTAS CHARGED FOR SACKING CLEANER

QANTAS has been charged under the Work Health and Safety Act after standing down a cleaner who raised concerns about the risk of catching Covid from aircraft flying in from China.

Safework NSW filed the charges in the District Court of NSW on October 6, alleging Qantas Ground Services engaged in discriminatory conduct for a prohibited reason.

A Safework NSW spokesman said the charges related to the standing down of a worker who raised concerns about potential exposure of workers to Covid-19 while cleaning aircraft in early 2020.

Qantas indicated it would fight the charges, saying the cleaner, Theo Seremeditis, was directed not to come to work on February 7, 2020 while he was investigated for allegedly attempting to incite unprotected industrial action.

“There are established, legal mechanisms for health and safety representatives to follow if they have concerns,” a Qantas spokesman said.

Mr Seremeditis had claimed cleaners were not supplied with adequate protective gear for cleaning aircraft returning from China.

If the charges were upheld, Qantas could face significant financial penalties with each breach attracting a maximum fine of $594,021.