SkyWest Airlines Faces Federal Lawsuits Over Alleged Fake Company Union
SkyWest Airlines, North America’s largest regional carrier, is embroiled in a significant legal battle over allegations of operating a “fake” company union and retaliatory actions against flight attendants involved in union organizing efforts. The lawsuits, filed by the Association of Flight Attendants (AFA-CWA) and the U.S. Department of Labor, accuse the airline of controlling and financially supporting the SkyWest Inflight Association (SIA), a union allegedly created and manipulated by the airline to suppress independent unionization.
The AFA-CWA’s lawsuit, filed in October 2023, claims that SkyWest engaged in unfair labor practices by backing SIA and retaliating against employees involved in organizing an independent union. The U.S. Department of Labor’s lawsuit further alleges that SIA failed to fulfill its legal obligations as a representative agency and unlawfully barred two employees from running in leadership elections due to their support for the independent union.
The legal challenges come amid broader discussions in the U.S. about labor law reforms, particularly in the context of the conservative Project 2025, which advocates for allowing employers to create non-union employee organizations. Current labor laws prohibit employers from dominating or interfering with the formation or administration of labor organizations.
SkyWest, which operates under partnerships with major airlines like United, Delta, American, and Alaska Airlines, is accused of directly funding and controlling SIA. Former SIA president Romero, who served from October 2020 to October 2021, claims that the union was essentially a puppet of SkyWest, with the airline approving all public statements and handling the union’s finances. Romero also alleges that he faced racial discrimination and was forced to resign after attempting to assert more independence for the union.
The lawsuits highlight concerns about the blurred lines between SkyWest management and SIA, with allegations of improper election administration, conflict of interest, and union-busting tactics. The AFA-CWA is pushing for the right of SkyWest flight attendants to choose their representative labor organization without interference from the airline.
SkyWest has denied the allegations, calling the lawsuits “baseless and without merit.” The airline maintains that it has a legally recognized collective bargaining agreement with SIA and that the organization has successfully negotiated the best pay and benefits in the regional airline industry. SIA’s current president, Brent Coates, also defended the union’s record, stating that it provides professional representation and is confident in its legal position.
As the lawsuits progress, the outcome could have significant implications for labor relations at SkyWest and potentially set a precedent for how companies in the airline industry and beyond navigate the complex landscape of labor laws and unionization efforts.
Related news: https://airguide.info/?s=SkyWest
Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, theguardian.com