Southwest Airlines Pilots Ratify New Agreement
Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) announced today that its Pilots have ratified a new collective bargaining agreement. According to the Southwest Airlines Pilots' Association (SWAPA), 84.26 percent of Pilots who cast ballots voted in favor of the deal.
"This contract recognizes and rewards our Pilots for their professionalism and leadership," said Alan Kasher, Vice President Flight Operations. "Beyond the compensation and work rule improvements, this forward-looking agreement delivers the operational flexibility needed to grow our network and ensures that Southwest will remain well-positioned for long-term success in our intensely-competitive industry."
New contractual terms, including a new wage scale and bonus provisions, will be implemented according to an agreed timeline. Negotiations began in 2012 and have been guided by the National Mediation Board (NMB) since 2014.
"We would like to thank our Mediators and the Board members of the NMB for their assistance in helping us reach this agreement," said Russell McCrady, Senior Director of Labor Relations.
The newly-ratified contract becomes amendable in September 2020.
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In its 46th year of service, Dallas-based Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV) continues to differentiate itself from other air carriers with exemplary Customer Service delivered by more than 53,000 Employees to more than 100 million Customers annually. Southwest operates more than 3,900 departures a day during peak travel season across a network of 98 destinations in the United States and seven additional countries with service to Varadero, Cuba beginning Nov. 13, 2016, and to Havana, Cuba, beginning Dec. 12, 2016, both routes subject to governmental approvals.
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SOURCE Southwest Airlines Co.