United Airlines fires employee after he reports racism

In the United States, Amir Brown, a Black employee at United Airlines, has filed a federal lawsuit against the airline claiming he was subjected to constant racial discrimination and harassment during his employment at Denver International Airport (DIA). Brown started his career with United in March 2017, was promoted to ramp agent in October 2020, and later transferred to a specialized position on the Aircraft Move Team in January 2023. Over nearly two years, he alleged that he faced escalating bigotry from white coworkers, including being ostracized, belittled, and falsely accused of rule-breaking. In October 2022, Brown requested parental leave to bond with his newborn daughter, but was denied the requested time off and told that only mothers or management were eligible. Despite consistently receiving recognition for his exceptional work ethic, he attributed the harassment to jealousy from colleagues who were upset about his overtime earnings. Brown's complaints to management, detailing the hostile work environment, were reportedly ignored; his complaints about a white supervisor telling a Black employee to “go fetch” a noose also went unaddressed. The toxic work culture reportedly worsened, leading to a hostile workplace for employees of color and a series of false performance reports meant to undermine Brown. He claimed that white colleagues intentionally created a divided atmosphere on the team, which ultimately resulted in his termination on November 28, 2024, for supposed attendance policy violations. Brown contended that United produced fabricated incidents as grounds for dismissal and maintained that the airline failed to appropriately act on multiple grievances. As Brown navigates the aftermath of his termination, he is pursuing accountability and change for a work environment that is free from racial harassment. His lawsuit underscores a pattern of reported racial discrimination and highlights the urgent need for United Airlines to address allegations of racism and harassment within its ranks. Public statements from the airline's representatives suggest ongoing commitment to fostering a culture of inclusion, but the effectiveness of their response to the legal matter remains under scrutiny.