A Southwest Airlines Co. Boeing 737 passenger jet is being directed by a worker as it pushes back from a gate at Midway International Airport (MDW) in Chicago, Illinois, U.S., on Monday, Oct. 11, 2021.
Photograph by Luke Sharrett, courtesy of Bloomberg.
Southwest Airlines announced on Friday that it has reached a preliminary agreement with the union representing its mechanics, aircraft inspectors, maintenance controllers, and training instructors.
The agreement, which applies to over 2,800 employees, still requires approval from those workers.
“Our Mechanics & Related Employees work tirelessly to ensure the safe maintenance of our aircraft, and we have achieved a Tentative Agreement that rewards them while also helping Southwest maintain an efficient operation,” stated Adam Carlisle, vice president of labor relations at Southwest, in a press release.
The details of the agreement have not yet been disclosed by the union and airline, but they plan to do so in the coming days.
The national president of the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association, Bret Oestreich, stated that the union’s objective is to protect jobs, raise standards, and increase recognition for aircraft maintenance technicians and related professionals.
Meanwhile, negotiations for new contracts between Southwest and the unions representing its pilots and flight attendants are still ongoing.
In earlier developments this month, the Transport Workers Union of America 556, which represents Southwest flight attendants, rejected a preliminary agreement that would have allowed for a membership vote. The union stated that federal mediators and the parties involved will not reconvene until January 16.
“We are proud of the Agreement in Principle that was reached by the Southwest and TWU 556 Negotiating Teams, and we’re incredibly disappointed to learn that TWU 556’s Executive Board voted it down,” said Southwest’s Carlisle in a statement.
Last week, the local executive board informed members: “Your TWU Local 556 Executive Board did not make this decision lightly. As Members ourselves, we are just as eager to vote on and ratify a worthy Tentative Agreement.”
Across various industries, employees have been advocating for better compensation and improved work conditions, often resulting in strikes. Although strike authorizations have been granted to some airline unions, such actions are extremely uncommon and involve federal intervention.
Starting in Seattle on Friday, nearly 3,500 workers at over 150 locations in the U.S. Starbucks stores pledged to go on strike following a public dispute between the coffee giant and the union representing baristas over allegations of the company banning Pride Month decorations in its cafes.
The International Brotherhood of Teamsters has authorized a strike at UPS if the union and the company fail to reach a new labor agreement. The current national contract is set to expire after July 31.
Shares of Southwest were down almost 1% during Friday afternoon.
– This article includes contributions from CNBC’s Leslie Josephs.
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