labor lawAdivision of labor law center

OSHA has ordered a Connecticut air cargo carrier to withdraw a lawsuit for defamation against 9 former employees and pay them more than $7.9 million in wages, damages and legal fees.

Southern Air, Inc.  specializes in long haul, heavy-lift air freight operations using the company’s B747 fleet of cargo planes.  Based in Norwich, the company has been in operation since 1999 when it acquired the fleet of the former Southern Air Transport Company.

Southern Air filed a defamation suite against 9 former employees in Connecticut Superior Court in May 2008 after some of the workers raised safety concerns with Southern Air, OSHA and the FAA or Federal Aviation Administration. The workers were all former flight crew members and subsequently filed a whistleblower complaint with OSHA.

OSHA’s investigation found that the company’s lawsuit was filed in retaliation for the worker’s  protected activities under the whistle bower provision of the Wendell H. Ford Aviation Investment and Reform Act for the 21^st Century or AIR21.

“This order sends a strong and clear message that these and other workers have the right to raise safety issues with their employers and regulatory agencies without fear of retaliation and intimidation,” (more…)

Last week, the U.S. Department of Labor announced a grant exceeding $5.2 million to aid displaced airline workers in the 50th state.

Gas prices hit an average of $4.04 nationwide this month. The increase in fuel cost – and a corresponding in food prices – is adversely affecting a number of industries. But airlines are among those hardest hit. Several smaller airlines have gone out of business this year, while even the giants are struggling. United Airlines recently announced plans to layoff more than 1,600 employees. All major airlines are decreasing services to travelers and increasing prices. United and American Airlines recently announced that they will charge travelers $15 to check one bag, and an additional $50 to check a second bag, even on domestic flights. Northwest Airlines recently announced that it will eliminate snacks on all domestic flights. (more…)