The airline will set up a $120 million compensation fund after reaching a deal with the Transport Workers Union following it was found to have illegally sacked the 1820 workers in 2020.
There was trauma associated with the sacking and protracted legal fight, ex-worker Don Dixon said.Â
"We can see a light at the end of the tunnel now, it's just almost over," he said alongside union representatives at Sydney Airport on Wednesday.
"I'm glad that Qantas came to the table and decided to work with the union and resolve this matter and I think there's a brighter future for everyone ahead."
Qantas apologised to those affected and their families, with chief executive Vanessa Hudson saying the fund was an important step towards closure.
The exact amount each worker will receive out of the kitty, to be administered by law firm Maurice Blackburn from early 2025, will be determined by how much they've lost in line with the court's checklist.
A Maurice Blackburn spokesman said all workers have been impacted differently and experts would assess each and determine details in the coming months.
The record-breaking settlement sent a large message to employers they won't get away with profiting from illegally sacking workers, they said.
Three test cases before the court put the non-economic hurt at $30,000, $40,000 and $100,000 and legal fees will be covered through interest, the union said.
Don Dixon said he and other former Qantas workers could now see a light at the end of the tunnel. (Dan Himbrechts/AAP PHOTOS)
An apology was better late than never but workers shouldn't have had to drag the major airline through the courts for four years, TWU national secretary Michael Kaine said.
"They've suffered family breakdowns, financial hardship, mental health issues because their employer that they served so well for so many years sacked them unceremoniously during COVID," he said.
"The largest case of illegal sackings in Australia's history today has been transformed into the largest payout in the favour of workers in Australia's legal history."
It was a moment for the workers to rebuild their lives with their families and for the aviation sector to reset, Mr Kaine added.
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