![]() Union and Company negotiators have been in contract discussions for more than three years and in mediated talks since November 2014. Southwest Pilots will continue working under their existing contract until a new agreement is reached. The Company expects mediated discussions to resume in the spring of 2016. The Negotiating Committees will resume discussions subject to the schedule and guidance of the National Mediation Board (NMB). "Although our efforts failed to produce an agreement, we will continue working until we have a contract that meets the needs of our Pilots and the Company." "Everyone who worked on this agreement wanted to ensure that it recognized Southwest Pilots for the role they play in the Company's success," said Vice President of Flight Operations Craig Drew. According to the Southwest Airlines Pilots Association, 62 percent of Pilots who cast ballots voted against the deal. We voluntarily pick up as much flying as we can to make sure that those passengers, our guests on the airplane, get to where they want to be as safely and efficiently as possible.Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV) today announced that its Pilots have rejected the tentative contract agreement that Union and Company negotiators reached in September. "Our pilots and all our frontline employees will do everything that we can to make sure that their travel experiences is satisfactory. Murray has a message for passengers and workers amid the ongoing struggles throughout the busy summer travel season. 7 to address staffing issues.Īmerican Airlines pilots have already demonstrated at DFW Airport this year. and Latin America, affecting travel from July 1 to Aug. In the letter, Delta pilots said they've been working on days off and pulling in more overtime in 2022 than all of 20 combined, which were their busiest years to date.ĭelta recently announced it was canceling some 100 daily departures from destinations in the U.S. Last Thursday, Delta Airlines published an open letter to customers who are frustrated by flights delays and cancellations. The SWA pilots are not alone in their protests. "Our contract that we're in negotiations for does that, it also allows Southwest to go out and hire - in a very competitive market - the best pilots." ![]() And if they're going to go out and and execute the schedule that is most profitable - because we've seen them reduce the schedule pretty much every month for a little more than a year - we want to see them go out and capture as much revenue as they can," said Murray. It addresses a lot of these issues to help the company. "Our contract has been completely rewritten. Murray added that a contract plan has been presented to the airlines as those negotiations continue. Southwest Airlines said in a statement that contract negotiations with pilots are ongoing. So it adds up and the more flying that there is that has to be covered,” Murray said. "Our pilots have lost over the last year almost 20,000 days off, which is over 50 years that our pilots have lost – involuntarily being made to fly on off days. He said pilots are feeling overworked during the never-ending travel demand and he hopes this will get the company's attention to negotiate new contracts and better treatment for pilots. In many cases, it's a longer flight, which has led pilots feeling fatigued and frustrated. Murray explained that many pilots start their day scheduled to fly to one destination only to receive a late reassignment that instructs them to fly elsewhere. "While we do need to hire pilots, the main problem is really the efficiency in the scheduling efficiencies that we've seen." And this has been going on for several years,” he said. "We've seen our company not really address a lot of operational problems. ![]() Murray said the biggest grievance is that Southwest has a problem with "bad scheduling" in connecting flights for pilots, which causes them to fly longer and become more fatigued. ![]() ![]() For 51 years, we’ve maintained a legendary southwest culture that honors our valued employees.” “Southwest airlines respects the rights of our employees to express their opinions, and we do not anticipate any disruption in service as a result of this single demonstration. “We’re aware that some off-duty pilots are participating in informational picketing,” Southwest Airlines told NBC 5 in a statement. The pilots and other supporters taking part in the picket are already scheduled to not work on Tuesday.Īccording to Southwest Airlines, the event shouldn't affect passengers who are scheduled to fly on Tuesday. According to the event website, union rules state pilots can't call in sick to take part in the picket and can't negatively impact the company's operation to attend. The union emphasizes this is not a walk out. Hundreds of pilots are expected to line up along Mockingbird Lane outside Love Field Tuesday for an informational picket ![]()
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