May 4, 2024
DALLAS (AP) — A former Southwest Airlines flight attendant who was fired after sparring with her union president over abortion and other issues won a $5.1 million jury verdict against the airline and the union.
A jury in federal district court in Dallas handed down the verdict Thursday. If it stands, Charlene Carter could collect $4.15 million from Southwest and $950,000 from Local 556 of the Transport Workers Union, mostly in punitive damages.
Southwest and the union both said Friday they plan to appeal.
Carter, a 20-year veteran of Southwest, alleged she was fired in March 2017 after complaining to the union president about flight attendants going to a march in Washington, D.C., where more than 500,000 people protested President Donald Trump’s positions on abortion and other issues.
Carter sent a series of Facebook messages to Audrey Stone, who was president of the union at the time. She called Stone “despicable” and said she would be voted out of office.
According to court documents, the airline said she violated company policies on bullying and the use of social media.
Carter, a 20-year veteran of Southwest, said the union did not fairly represent her and retaliated against her for expressing her views. Her lead attorney came from the National Right To Work Committee, which campaigns against compulsory union membership.
The jury said Southwest unlawfully discriminated against Carter because of her sincerely held religious beliefs.
