HOUSTON — A Missouri City woman is suing Southwest Airlines, alleging she was terminated rather than being given Family and Medical Leave Act time.
Sonie Tomlin filed a complaint Sept. 5 in the Houston Division of the Southern District of Texas against Southwest Airlines Co., and the Transport Workers Union of America, AFL-CIO, Local 556, alleging violation of the Railway Labor Act, racial and age-based discrimination.
According to the complaint, Tomlin had had been employed as a flight attendant by Southwest Airlines for 32 years. The suit states Tomlin was terminated after she had reached a certain level within the company and had relocated due to having to care for her elderly mother. The plaintiff alleges she should have been eligible for Family and Medical Leave Act time off but Southwest failed to inform the plaintiff of her rights. When the plaintiff she complained of her discharge, the transport workers union allegedly failed to provide her with an experienced union representative and she was terminated in September 2017.
The plaintiff, who was 52 at the time and is black, alleges age and racial discrimination.
Tomlin seeks trial by jury, actual, compensatory and liquidated damages, interest, attorney fees, court costs and all just relief. She is represented by attorney Mike McCormick of McCormick & Boyd PLLC in Houston.
Houston Division of the Southern District of Texas case number 4:19-CV-03360