Southwest, United Force Fingerprint Dispute to Adjustment Board

Two challenges by Southwest Airlines Co. and United Airlines Inc. employees to the use of their fingerprints to clock in shouldn’t be heard in federal court, the Seventh Circuit said June 13.

Disputes concerning collective bargaining agreements in the railroad and airline industries must be heard by an adjustment board under the Railway Labor Act, the opinion by Judge Frank H. Easterbrook said.

Although the suits here were filed in federal court under the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act, they fall under the RLA because they involve the interpretation or application of the employees’ CBAs, the court said.

Under the ...