A federal judge’s ruling has permanently blocked 10,000 American Airlines passenger service agents from voting on joining a union.

According to the Communications Workers of America, the judge based his ruling on a provision of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) – a recently enacted bill that changed the threshold of authorization cards needed before union elections can be held at airlines and other industries covered by the Railway Labor Act.

The American Airlines workers started organizing long before the bill was even passed.

CWA Organizing Director Sandy Rusher responded:

Here in America, we’re taught to respect democracy and our right to vote. Sadly, the court’s decision today is an attack on the rights of these average Americans, agents who just want the opportunity to participate in a democratic election.

The CWA plans to appeal the ruling.