Southwest agrees to avoid hiring 'quotas' after accusations of 'discriminatory' practices

By Ray Lewis

Southwest agrees to avoid hiring 'quotas' after accusations of 'discriminatory' practices

WASHINGTON (TNND) -- Southwest Airlines has agreed to avoid hiring "quotas" and "preferences" after receiving accusations of "discriminatory" practices, a legal group which filed a complaint against the company announced Tuesday.

America First Legal, which describes itself as the opposition to an "anti-American crusade," released a letter from the Department of Labor explaining the agreement. The legal group initially filed a complaint against Southwest in January demanding an investigation into alleged "discriminatory" hiring practices, including setting goals of increasing "racial diversity" and "gender diversity" in certain roles.

"Southwest Airlines Co. understands that [Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs] regulations do not permit quotas, preferences, or set asides," the letter reads.

"Southwest Airlines Co. agrees that placement goals ... utilization goals ... and hiring benchmarks ... are not to be interpreted as a ceiling or floor for the employment of particular groups of persons, but rather should serve as a benchmark against which Southwest Airlines Co. measures the representation of persons within its workforce," the letter adds.

For stylistic purposes, The National News Desk (TNND) omitted a reference to an executive order requiring government contractors to "take affirmative action to ensure that equal opportunity is provided in all aspects of their employment." The letter also cited the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which compels employers to "take affirmative action to recruit, hire, promote, and retain" people with disabilities.

A 1974 law requiring some contractors to "take affirmative action" to hire veterans was also mentioned in the letter.

Southwest understands that the Department of Labor's regulations do not permit "quotes, preferences, or set asides," as well, according to the letter. The agreement came during an "informal" meeting on Monday, America First Legal and Southwest confirmed.

"During an informal conference on Dec. 2, the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) reiterated that Southwest should continue to abide by the regulations," a spokesperson for the airline told TNND. "OFCCP made no determination of any violations by the airline."

The spokesperson added that Southwest will "continue to recruit, hire, and retain a diverse and inclusive workforce in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations."

If the airline does not meet a hiring goal, it will review its employment practices and "take appropriate measures" to remedy any illegal discrimination, the Department of Labor's letter says.

"Such remedies may include assessing and revising policies and practices that hinder equal employment opportunities, broadening recruitment and outreach to increase the diversity of applicant pools, and/or instituting training and/or apprenticeship programs to increase promotion opportunities and applicants from underrepresented groups," the letter reads.

America First Legal Counsel Will Scolinos said in a statement Tuesday "discrimination on the basis of immutable characteristics is always wrong."

"Americans have had enough of corporations' overt discrimination under the guise of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion," he said.

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