Southwest Airlines Reaches Contract Agreement with Flight Attendants’ Union

In yet another endeavour to appease its staff, the Dallas-based Southwest Airlines has entered into a tentative contract agreement with the union representing its flight attendants in a bid to end the long ensuing mess. The deal will lead to a wage increases and several other possible bonuses for flight attendants.

Henceforth, the tentative agreement will be sent out to all members for a vote later this month by the Transport Workers Union Local 556 which represents 12,000 flight attendants at Southwest. If approved by flight attendants, the contract will run through May 2019.

Though the terms of the four-year contract were not released, the airlines informed that the contract includes pay raises, possible bonuses and changes in work rules.

The workers union asserted that after the execution of this deal, Southwest’s flight attendants will be the highest-paid in the industry.

Audrey Stone, TWU Local 556 president remarked,” You’re going to see an agreement that not only maintains but improves our industry leading contract including your wages and your benefits”.

Mike Van de Ven, Southwest’s chief operating officer stated that this tentative agreement not only provides additional money, it also supports Southwest’s low-cost structure and thus, positions the Company to be competitive in the years to come.

It has been reported that the Southwest Airlines had 11,850 flight attendants as of last Dec. 31 and these contract talks have lasted longer than two years. Prior to this agreement, the airline has reached several new contract agreements with flight dispatchers, flight simulator technicians in the past few months.