Flight Attendants at Southwest Reject Tentative Agreement

Southwest Airlines’ flight attendants rejected a tentative agreement that had been negotiated between the airline and union.

The Transport Workers Union Local 556 said that 87% of those who cast ballots rejected the deal and that 89% of eligible members voted.

The deal, according to the carrier, would have “ensured that our Flight Attendants would stay atop the industry in pay and benefits,” said Randy Babbit, the airline’s senior vice president of labor relations.  It would have “improved the company’s competitiveness with certain work-rule changes and supported our evolving network, both domestically and in international markets.”

The company said it was “disappointed” that the flight attendants rejected the agreement.

The agreement, which would have run through May 2019, included fixed wage increases, cash bonuses, and other benefits.  Flight attendants will continue to work under the terms of their current agreement in the meantime, while a new agreement is negotiated between the carrier and union leadership.

(Photo: Accura Media Group)