SAN FRANCISCO — Nearly two dozen black pilots for United Airlines filed a federal discrimination lawsuit this week, claiming few minority workers are promoted to upper management at the world’s largest carrier.
The lawsuit claims blacks who are in upper-management jobs were promoted simply to give the company a false appearance of diversity.
Those managers often are excluded from social gatherings, informal e-mail chains and other forums where company issues are discussed, the legal action states.
United vowed Wednesday to vigorously defend itself against the allegations made by 22 pilots in the lawsuit filed Tuesday in federal court in San Francisco. “United does not tolerate harassment or discrimination of any kind,” spokeswoman Megan McCarthy said.
