Last week, the NAACP filed suit against USAirways in the District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, accusing the airline of discriminating against its African-American employees at Philadelphia International Airport. 

Among other claims, the NAACP alleges that USAirways assigns African-American employees to less desirable shifts and gates.  Specifically, the suit claims that whites are more likely to staff international and business flights, while African Americans are more likely to be assigned to less desirable commuter flights.  The complaint filed by the NAACP also alleges that USAirways managers and employees give work areas dominated by African-American employees derogatory nicknames such as “Compton”, “Camden” and “The Ghetto”, while calling areas where white employees predominate "Frankford", "South Philly" and "King of Prussia".  As an example, according to the complaint, Terminal F, occupied by USAirways subsidiary Piedmont Airlines, is known as "The Ghetto" as it has fewer amenities and is perceived to have more minority or lower-income passengers.

In addition, 3 former employees are also named plaintiffs in the suit.  One, a customer service manager, alleges that she was harassed and, ultimately, terminated because of her involvement as an officer of the Camden County branch of the NAACP.  The former employee alleges that USAirways managers would openly refer to certain African-American employees as being “ghetto” or “hood”, but that she was praised as having “the complexion for the connection”.

A spokesman for USAirways responded that gate assignments were based on seniority and that she had not heard of the use of the derogatory language. 

The suit seeks monetary damages for all African American employees, reinstatement of the individually named plaintiffs in the suit, an immediate ban on "racial code words," and the appointment of a civil-rights monitor over US Airways' Philadelphia operations.

This newsletter is a publication of Nochumson P.C. and is intended for general information only. It should not be construed as legal advice with respect to any particular situation, and readers should not act upon information contained in this newsletter without first consulting an attorney. Copyright © 2009.