Victory for free speech: Flight attendant awarded millions after Southwest fires her over pro-life views

By jdheyes // 2022-07-21

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More Americans are fighting back against the far Left "woke" countercultural movement that has infested major corporations, institutions of higher learning, the entertainment industry and more – and they are winning. The latest victory involves a flight attendant fired by Southwest Airlines (remember when they were good?) for committing the "high crime" of opposing the murder of unborn babies. As reported by the Daily Wire, 20-year veteran flight attendant Charlene Carter was awarded $5.1 million by a jury last week after it found that Southwest fired her over her sincerely held religious beliefs, namely, being pro-life. The outlet continued: "Carter expressed her pro-life stance online and pushed back against the Transportation Workers Union of America (TWU) Local 556 union after the group, including president Audrey Stone, attended the Women's March in Washington, D.C., in 2017. The event receives funding from Planned Parenthood, the largest abortion mill in the country." "Today is a victory for freedom of speech and religious beliefs. Flight attendants should have a voice and nobody should be able to retaliate against a flight attendant for engaging in protected speech against her union," Carter told FOX Business. "I am so humbled and thankful for today’s decision and for everyone who's supported me these past five years, including the National Right to Work Foundation." The National Right to Work Foundation President Mark Mix also blasted the union after Carter won her case. "No American worker should have to fear termination, intimidation, or any other reprisal merely for speaking out against having their own money spent, purportedly in their name, to promote an agenda they find abhorrent," said Mix, who served pro-bono legal representation to Carter. "TWU union officials still enjoy the enormous government-granted privilege of being able to force airline workers to financially subsidize their activities as a condition of employment," Mix noted. "While we’re proud to stand with Ms. Carter and are pleased by the verdict, there ultimately should be no place in American labor law for compelling workers to fund a private organization that violates their core beliefs." The jury handed down its verdict after an eight-day trial in the courtroom of Dallas Judge Brantley Starr. Bloomberg Law reported that Starr had ruled on May 5 that it would be necessary for Carter to have a jury trial because of her claims of religious bias under Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, retaliation claims under the Railway Labor Act and alleged breach of duty of being provided fair representation. But of course, Southwest announced that it will appeal the verdict. In a statement following Friday's proceedings, the company claimed it "has a demonstrated history of supporting our employees’ rights to express their opinions when done in a respectful manner.” If the decision stands, Carter would get a payment of $4.15 million from Southwest and an additional $950,000 from the union in mostly punitive damages, the Associated Press reported. Carter 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, who had clashed with the union for years over other issues, believed union dues were paying for an anti-abortion protest. According to court documents, the airline said it fired Carter because posts on her Facebook page, in which she could be identified as a Southwest employee, were “highly offensive” and that her private messages to Stone were harassing. The airline said she violated company policies on bullying and use of social media. The jury obviously disagreed. Sources include: DailyWire.com FoxBusiness.com News.BloombergLaw.com

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