Female worker claims American Airlines staff grabbed her breasts

CHICAGO - An American Airlines staffer has filed a lawsuit against the company, claiming that co-workers, and even bosses, grabbed her breasts and made lewd comments.

Donna Montefusco had been hired in November 2006 as an assistant in American’s maintenance and engineering department, the Chicago Sun-Times reported.

She alleges in the lawsuit that almost from the day she started working there she was subjected to unwanted sexual advances from the male-dominated overnight crew.

Even managers joined in, including one who would grope Montefusco and hug her despite her protests and another who repeatedly made the sexually suggestive comment “Donna do you wanna”.

Montefusco alleges this went on for about a year and it wasn’t until after she complained to bosses about the “hostile” work environment and was removed from the facility in November 2007.

She said American staff retaliated against her for filing the harassment complaint with higher ups, and she was moved to the day shift.

She also accused the company of interfering with her requests to transfer to other positions she applied for, including “rescinding a flight attendant position at American Eagle which had been previously offered to her”.

She filed a discrimination and retaliation complaint with the Illinois Department of Human Rights that gave her the green light to file a complaint in Cook County Circuit Court.

She is asking for at least 50,000 dollars in damages.

American spokeswoman Mary Frances Fagan said the company has not seen the suit and typically doesn’t comment on pending litigation. (ANI)