Lawsuit: Southwest Workers Had ‘Whites-Only’ Break Room at Houston Airport

A former Southwest Airlines employee is alleging in a discrimination lawsuit filed in federal court Wednesday that airline workers once had a “whites-only” break room at Houston’s Hobby Airport. Southwest Airlines was aware of the “whites-only area,” which existed for years until a recent renovation, the lawsuit claims. Jamel Parker, who was fired from the airline in April 2017, filed the lawsuit after being granted the right to sue though the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. “Southwest is quick to fire blacks while whites are given lesser discipline and chances to improve conduct,” the lawsuit alleges. The court documents also claim black employees once found a noose made of bungee cords at a gate inside the airport.