The Transport Workers Union (TWU) may be forced to pay Qantas more than $750,000 in compensation after losing an appeal over illegal strikes at four Australian airports.
Qantas ground staff belonging to the TWU held four-hour work stoppages at Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth airports on the morning of March 30, 2009.
The industrial action, which caused widespread delays, was in protest at Qantas hiring casual staff.
The Federal Court ruled in May 2011 that the stoppages contravened the Workplace Relations Act 1996 and in June 2011 Justice Michael Moore ordered the TWU to pay Qantas $707,345 plus interest and $38,000 in penalties.
TWU lawyers appeared in the Federal Court in Sydney on Tuesday to appeal the compensation component, which now totals more than $750,000, arguing the court did not have the power to order its payment.
Justices Peter Gray, Robert Buchanan and Neil McKerracher dismissed the appeal.
No costs were awarded.
A TWU spokesman said the judgment will be handed down in full on Wednesday and union lawyers will have 28 days to decide whether or not to launch an appeal in the High Court.
Qantas said it was aware of the decision but did not immediately comment.
