More than a dozen workers at Auckland Airport have lost their jobs.
Two of the 14 X-ray safety and passenger assistance staff have been in their role for more than a decade.
The workers lost the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry positions when they missed out being selected by recruitment firm Adecco.
Unite says the ministry is washing its hands of responsibility and has tossed its appeals aside.
But the MAF's acting director of passenger clearance, John Lyall, says it is up to the contractor to select workers.