United Airlines CEO, Scott Kirby, is in hot water after a threatening memo to employees has been leaked. United is now being. accused by a judge for harboring a “disdain for people of faith.” Over 2,000 workers of the Airline have joined in a class-action lawsuit against their employer.
United Airlines’ treatment of their employees is deeply disturbing. pic.twitter.com/5EmOsb5y8s
— Senator Ted Cruz (@SenTedCruz) December 18, 2021
Kirby’s memo read, “Any pilot, or any employee that all of the sudden decides, ‘I’m really religious,’ you’re putting your job on the line.” the CEO continued with a warning: “You better be very careful about that.”
United Airlines Employees Fight Back
Many of the airline’s workers were fired or forced into unpaid leave after filing a religious exemption request from the vaccination mandates implemented by the company. Due to the Airline’s actions the Airline Employees for Health Freedom (AE4HF), the group filing the lawsuit, claim that the company violated their statutory rights.
United Airlines CEO defends vaccine mandate at Senate hearing https://t.co/AXgLLCtqTL pic.twitter.com/YMbl4l8YnP
— Reuters (@Reuters) December 16, 2021
“We are standing for our religious freedom and our medical autonomy, and we believe we are entitled to the protections under Title VII,” said Sherry Walker, a captain for United Airlines and co-founder of AE4HF.
Dear Fired @United Employees:
Ensure your attorneys see this video. https://t.co/3dYCfL1ODJ
— 🇺🇸 Mike Davis 🇺🇸 (@mrddmia) December 17, 2021
Since the federal government gave Airlines, like United, over $74 billion to keep them afloat during the pandemic members of congress have taken an interest in the case. Because of the money, congress can access how the companies have used the funds and record the number of complaints.
The Senate Oversight Committee has gotten wind of the employee’s predicament causing United Airlines to be caught in the crosshairs of many irate lawmakers. Texas Senator Ted Cruz in particular.
This was great to watch!@TedCruz has been one of the leading voices against these terrible mandates & we need to keep pushing back against this as a party!
I stand with the workers at United Airlines – no one should be forced to get vaccinated just to go to work. pic.twitter.com/GIGiXhvsyh
— Lauren Boebert (@laurenboebert) December 16, 2021
“This morning I spoke with a 10-year flight attendant for United,” Cruz said. “She is a Hispanic single mom from Texas who you fired. She received her termination notice tied to the trash can through her front gate.”
United is doing more than just unpaid leave, Walker accuses the Airline of prohibiting employees from seeking outside employment and refusing them access to their savings and 401K accounts.
Ted Cruz blasts United Airlines over mask mandate. Privately thanks them for helping him escape the deadly Texas winter storm:
“It was unbelievably cold. I only wish more of my constituents could have been in Cancun with me instead of you know, dying”#MorningJoe Stephen Colbert pic.twitter.com/2SW49iFEZN
— SM (@sensiblemiddle) December 17, 2021
According to CBN News, AE4HF’s case now rests with the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals. If the workers win on merit and receive a preliminary injunction, United would have to restore their employment or give them paid leave.
“United has demonstrated a quote, ‘calloused approach to and apparent disdain for people of faith’,” said Cruz, quoting the 5th Circuit of Appeals Judge James Ho