- A former Southwest flight attendant sent harassing messages to her union president over abortion, the airline said.
- Charlene Carter sued the airline and her union after she was fired.
- On Friday, she won a $5.1 million jury verdict against the airline and her union.
A Southwest flight attendant who said she was fired for her views on abortion won a $5.1 million jury verdict against the airline and her union, several outlets reported.
The Associated Press reported Charlene Carter could get $4.15 million from Southwest and another $950,000 from Local 556 of the Transport Workers Union.
"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 in a statement. "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."
Carter said she was fired in March 2017 after complaining that flight attendants were going to march in Washington D.C. against former President Donald Trump's abortion views, the Dallas Morning News reported.
She had complained to then-union president Audrey Stone and sent her Facebook messages calling her "despicable" and saying she'd be removed from her position. Carter also sent videos that supposedly showed aborted fetuses, CBS reported.
Fox Business reported that Southwest met with Carter over her Facebook posts and harassing messages. She was fired a week after the meeting.
Southwest said in court documents that it fired Carter because she made "highly offensive" posts on her Facebook where she was identifiable as an airline employee, and for the harassing messages to Stone.
In a statement to Insider the airline said: "Southwest Airlines has a demonstrated history of supporting our Employees' rights to express their opinions when done in a respectful manner. We are disappointed with this verdict and plan to appeal to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals."