Qantas could face union fury after BHP’s vaccine mandate rejection

While the FWC ruling on BHP’s mandate at the Mt Arthur mine poses a headache for Qantas, Australia’s largest employers are sticking to their guns and told the Sydney Morning Herald and The Age that it had no impact on its vaccine policies.

Woolworths has previously indicated that workers who did not have legitimate grounds for exemption from being vaccinated would most likely be terminated.

“We conducted a thorough consultation process with our team on our vaccination policy,” a Woolworths spokesperson said on Monday.

“We have a clear obligation to provide our team members with the safest possible work environment as we supply the food and essential needs our communities rely on.”

Coles was contacted for comment.

Banks, including the big four, have also defended the consultation they had undertaken with staff.

Commonwealth Bank, which requires staff in offices and branches to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 by different deadlines across the states, said it would not revisit the policy.

“We will continue to review the effectiveness of our measures and monitor the latest developments and health advice, including state and territory guidance and health orders,” a bank spokesman said.

“We recognise this is a complex topic with a range of considerations, and we took steps to ensure that we consulted our employees and other stakeholders, including our health and safety representatives, before implementing the policy.”

Westpac, which is also requires staff in offices and branches to be vaccinated, said its consultation on the policy had been “extensive”.

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“The policy has received strong support from employees. For those choosing not to get vaccinated, we continue to work with them on a case by case basis,” a bank spokeswoman said.

Bendigo and Adelaide Bank, which has mandated vaccination by February as a condition of employment, said it did not plan to revisit its vaccination policy and also pointed to “extensive” consultation.

“The recent BHP ruling does not change our commitment to the safety of our people,” a Bendigo spokeswoman said.

“A small number of staff shared their objections, and we have worked with them one-on-one to ensure they have the information they need to make an informed decision. We acknowledge the sensitivity of this topic to some, however, our people have been overwhelmingly supportive of our policy.”

Spokespersons for NAB and ANZ told the Sydney Morning Herald and The Age that there would be no change to its policy, and it would continue to follow government guidelines, including requirements that staff be vaccinated in order to work in office buildings.

With Charlotte Grieve and Dominic Powell

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