Charlene Carter, a Southwest Airlines flight attendant, received almost $1,000,000 in damages after a jury found that both the Transport Workers Union (TWU) and Southwest Airlines violated federal law by firing her for expressing her personal and religious beliefs. The payment follows an April 28 decision by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals upholding earlier rulings in Carter’s favor.
The case is significant because it addresses workers’ rights to express their beliefs without fear of retaliation from unions or employers. Carter was represented by National Right to Work Foundation attorneys throughout the nearly decade-long legal process.
Carter filed suit in 2017 against both TWU Local 556 and Southwest Airlines after she was terminated for criticizing union leadership’s use of dues for political activities. She argued that her firing violated both Title VII of the Civil Rights Act and the Railway Labor Act. A jury awarded Carter $5 million in damages five years later; however, federal law capped the compensatory and punitive damages at a lower amount. The District Court also ordered that she be reinstated as a flight attendant.
A Satisfaction of Judgment filed with the District Court shows that Carter received $946,102.87 as her litigation concludes. However, proceedings continue over whether Southwest attorneys should be held in contempt for allegedly misinforming flight attendants about aspects of the court’s ruling on religious discrimination.
Carter said: “Being a flight attendant is my livelihood and my passion, and union officials tried to manipulate company policy to upend my career simply because I spoke out about my most sincerely held beliefs… I hope that both my employer and TWU union bosses have learned that it doesn’t pay to stifle flight attendants’ freedom of religion and speech.” Mark Mix, President of National Right to Work Foundation, said: “Ms. Carter was courageous in standing up to protect her religious and personal beliefs from the schemes of radical union officials and a compliant employer… We hope Carter’s case will prompt a long-overdue conversation about how coercive union boss power infringes on the rights of millions of hardworking Americans.”
The National Right to Work Legal Defense and Education Foundation works to protect employees from compulsory unionism by offering free legal aid, engaging in litigation and public education according to its official website. The foundation advances workers’ freedom through strategic litigation on compulsory unionism issues according to its official website. It delivers free legal assistance and educational resources aimed at safeguarding workers’ rights against mandatory union fees as noted on its official website. The organization focuses on labor rights advocacy according to its official website.
