Southwest Calls Allegations It Allowed a Whites-Only Break Area “Demonstrably False”

In a court filing, Southwest Airlines responded to a former employee’s claim that he was fired because of rampant racial bias at the company. The disgruntled worker is seeking damages, claiming the carrier created a hostile work environment at its Houston William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) hub – even allowing employees to enforce segregated break rooms.

Southwest Airlines forcefully responded this month to a former-employee’s lawsuit claiming that the company created a discriminatory and hostile work environment at its Houston William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) base. In a court filing the low fare carrier called the allegations “demonstrably false.”

According to the suit filed by the disgruntled former employee, the carrier allowed workers to maintain a de facto whites-only break area and ignored the exhibition of racially offensive symbols, including a crudely crafted noose (purportedly displayed in an attempt to intimidate black employees). Jamel Parker is seeking damages, claiming that he was unfairly fired from his job as ramp worker because of racial bias.

“Plaintiff’s (Parker’s) lawsuit is based upon demonstrably false allegations that Southwest treats its black employees differently than its similarly situated white employees,” the airline said in court documents obtained by the Houston Chronicle. “The complaint is wrought with inaccurate, irrelevant and exaggerated assertions in a transparent effort to support a meritless claim of race discrimination against Southwest.”

Attorneys for the airline also noted that an independent arbiter already found Southwest had “just cause” to terminate Parker’s employment after he allegedly failed to report accidentally damaging company property. The Dallas-based airline said there is no evidence indicating the existence of a “whites-only” break area anywhere at the HOU hub at any point in time. The carrier explained that an isolated incident in which a noose made out of bungee cords was discovered on company property was immediately referred to police for investigation.

Parker, however, says that white employees who committed similar infractions to his in the past have been disciplined, but not terminated. He noted that while there were no signs indicating that the break room in question was a “whites only” facility, the unwritten rule was widely understood to be in place by employees and management alike.

“We work relentlessly to foster an environment that is diverse and inclusive,” Southwest officials said when Parker first brought his allegations forward in September of this year. “We do not tolerate or condone discrimination of any kind, and we cultivate a workplace that mirrors the customers we serve.”

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