Dallas-based Southwest Airlines has arrived at a provisional agreement with its almost 12,000 flight attendants. If approved, the agreement is anticipated to push thru until May 2019, as reported by Morning News USA.
"We have the finest flight attendants in the industry. Each day and on every flight, our flight attendants bring Southwest's purpose to life for our customers — connecting them to what's important in their lives through friendly, reliable and low-cost air travel," declared Mike Hafner, Southwest Airlines Cabin Services' vice president.
Having negotiations with the workers unions was not a new thing for the airlines since as much as 83 percent of their employees are unionized. They unceasingly deal with almost 12 unions representing Southwest workforce including pilots, agents for ramp, operations, dispatchers, flight instructors, mechanics, inspectors, ground operations and customer representatives, material specialists, customer service agents, flight simulator technicians, meteorologists and more.
Transport Workers Union (TWU) 556's Local President Audrey Stone, who also heads the mediations, released a statement after the tentative agreement was made, saying, "I am excited that after two years of negotiations, we have an agreement to present to the best flight attendants in the industry that recognizes their dedication to our customers and to our company. This Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) assures that the Southwest Airlines flight attendants continue to be the highest paid in the industry through 2019. It maintains and improves upon an industry-leading contract, while ensuring that Southwest Airlines' remains prosperous in the future."
According to USA Today, the agreement is said to have discussed wage increases, which is the foremost issue in the settlement, bonus possibilities and adjustments in work rules which may include holiday time and vacations. The deal, if approved by Southwest's flight attendants, would make them the top paid in the airline industry.
The Next Digit revealed that Southwest Airlines and the flight attendants' union TWU have been in talks for two long years and, finally, a resolution is about to take off.
