Oct 28 (Reuters) - Southwest Airlines ( LUV ) was

ordered by a federal appeals court on Monday to face a lawsuit

by its pilots union, which accused the carrier of violating

federal law by intimidating and disciplining pilots for

affiliating with it.

The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said the union

sufficiently pleaded that Southwest ( LUV ) had anti-union animus,

triggering an exception that would allow the lawsuit to proceed

rather than send the dispute into arbitration.

It reversed a lower court judge who said the dispute should

be arbitrated.