Pace Airlines Sued for Retaliation

EEOC Says Airline Fired Flight Attendant for Complaining About Discrimination

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Pace Airlines, Inc. violated federal law by firing a flight attendant after she repeatedly complained of discrimination, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) charged in a lawsuit filed today. Pace Airlines is a charter airline company that provides executive style aircraft charters to corporations and professional sports and collegiate basketball teams. Pace's main airport is Smith Reynolds-Airport in Winston-Salem. 

According to the EEOC's complaint, Pace Airlines hired Chau Nguyen as a flight attendant in November 2003 and fired her on or about February 27, 2006, after she made several complaints of discrimination to management and Human Resources the previous week. The EEOC alleges that Nguyen, who is Asian and had sought a promotion into a lead flight attendant position, complained that Pace Airlines was promoting only Caucasians into lead flight attendant positions.

Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 makes it illegal to retaliate against someone who complains about discrimination. The EEOC seeks back pay, compensatory damages and punitive damages for Nguyen as well as injunctive relief. The EEOC filed suit in U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission v. Pace Airlines, Inc., Civil Action No. 1:09-cv-00730) after first attempting to reach a voluntary settlement.

Lynette A. Barnes, regional attorney for the EEOC's Charlotte District Office, said, "Employers should be aware that they cannot terminate employees for exercising their statutory right to oppose illegal employment practices. This lawsuit sends a message that the EEOC will not allow employers to retaliate against employees who oppose discrimination in the workplace."

The EEOC enforces federal laws prohibiting employment discrimination. Further information about the EEOC is available on the agency's web site at www.eeoc.gov