Qantas charged for standing down cleaner Theo Seremeditis who had Covid risk concerns

The airline has been hit with charges over treatment of cleaner who raised the alarm about Covid exposure risks on aircraft returning from China last year.

Qantas is facing criminal prosecution under the Work Health and Safety Act, over the treatment of a cleaner who raised concerns about the risk of catching Covid from aircraft flying in from China early last year.

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.

“The proceedings are first listed before the District Court on Monday, December 6,” said the spokesman.

“As the matter is before the court, no further information can be provided at this time.”

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,” said a Qantas spokesman.

“Qantas supports and encourages our employees to utilise these mechanisms if they have safety concerns.

“It’s worth noting that there was not a single positive Covid case carried on our flights back from China.”

Qantas has denied those claims, insisting all workers were provided with masks, gloves and gowns and using strong cleaning products, not “just water”.

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

He was stood down along with 20,000 other Qantas employees in March 2020, when international flights were suspended, and domestic flying reduced to a skeleton schedule.

Transport Workers Union NSW state secretary Richard Olsen said the regulator’s decision to prosecute Qantas was a landmark moment for work health and safety across Australia.

“Qantas stood Theo down simply for trying to protect himself and his colleagues from Covid, and now the company is rightly facing criminal charges for doing so,” Mr Olsen said.

“This is the same company that was found by a Federal Court earlier this year to have illegally outsourced 2000 workers. It’s clear Alan Joyce thinks he’s above the law, but this prosecution will make sure Qantas pays for its crimes.”

Mr Olsen said the TWU wanted to see the court “throw the book at Qantas” for the decision to stand down a worker “who was simply trying to keep himself and his colleagues safe at work.”

If the charges are upheld, Qantas could face significant financial penalties with each Work Health and Safety breach attracting a maximum fine of $594,021.

Mr Seremeditis, is also taking legal action against Qantas in the Federal Court over his alleged mistreatment.