Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-7H4 (36621/2532) N912WN taxies at John Wayme Orange County Airport (SNA/KSNA) on November 16, 2008 sporting the special "Tinker Bell / Powered by Pixie Dust" livery.
(Photo by Michael Carter)
Flight instructors for Southwest Airlines have approved a new contract that includes across-the-board pay raises, the airline and the union representing the instructors reported today.
The new deal also includes possible bonuses and updated work rules for the flight instructors. The agreement will become amendable on Dec. 31, 2019.
“I applaud the work of the negotiating teams and the leadership displayed throughout the process,” Southwest chief operating officer Mike Van de Ven said in a statement. “This agreement recognizes the significant contributions of our flight instructors and delivers needed flexibility to support Southwest's expanding network.”
Earlier this month, ramp, cargo and operations workers narrowly approved a contract that included raises and work rule changes. Southwest continues to negotiate with its pilots and flight attendants unions. Both rejected tentative agreements last year.
While negotiations with the pilots and flight attendants have each gone on for more than two years, the flight instructors approved a new contract less than two months after talks began. The groundworkers contracts were approved after four years of talks.
“We never had to discuss major concessions, and that made the process much easier,” Transport Workers Union International vice president Gary Shults said in a statement. “We were able to address scheduling needs and increase our members’ annual income at the same time. Both TWU and Southwest came to the table prepared to get this agreement done, and that made all the difference.”
(Bill Hethcock - Dallas Business Journal)
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