Virgin Blue airline recruited younger women in preference to older women in clear defiance of Australia’s anti-discrimination laws, a tribunal sitting in Brisbane found on Monday.
The Queensland Anti-Discrimination Tribunal was told that the listed discount carrier, part owned by British entrepreneur Richard Branson, had only employed one woman over 36 years old in the two years following its launch in 2000.
The tribunal found that eight air stewards ranging in age from 35 to 56 were discriminated against on the basis of age. Despite their extensive experience, they didn’t get past the first round of interviews.
Lawyers for Virgin Blue argued that teamwork, communication skills, assertiveness and something indefinable called ”Virgin Blue flair” were the deciding factors in recruitment, not age.
Outside court complainant Nicole Hopper declared herself overjoyed by a verdict that showed ”people over the age of 35 are not finished”.
The level of compensation payments will be decided at a later date. – Sapa-DPA