Southwest Airlines pilot union activates its strike preparedness committee

[Omaha Steve]

Source: Dallas News

Terry Maxon

On the eve of the Southwest Airlines annual meeting, the Southwest Airlines Pilots’ Association announced Tuesday it was activating its strike preparedness committee.

It doesn’t mean there’s a strike imminent, particularly with the National Mediation Board appearing to be extremely reluctant to allow strikes at any airline. But it means the pilots are taking the necessary steps to be ready to strike if it gets to that point.

““While a strike is certainly not in either side’s best interest, the Railway Labor Act clearly defines the procedure for protracted negotiations which can lead to a lock out by management or a suspension of service by our pilots,” SWAPA president Paul Jackson said Tuesday.

“SWAPA is doing our due diligence to prepare our pilots and passengers for the next steps in this federal mediation process should we not be able to reach a deal. We have been in negotiations for more than three years and are seeking a market rate contract for pilots that is in line, economically, with our peers at other major airlines,” he said.

FULL story at link.


Read more: http://aviationblog.dallasnews.com/2015/05/southwest-airlines-pilot-union-activates-its-strike-preparedness-committee.html/

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U.S. airlines were solidly profitable in 2014: http://www.dallasnews.com/business/databases/20150510-economic-snapshot.ece

[global1]

1. Too Bad As A Strike Will Probably Change Southwest......

I fly SWA almost exclusively. I like everything about them. Friendly employees. Relatively decent fares. No baggage charges. etc

Basically really good customer service and to me that's most important.

I fear that the pressure on them to be like all the other airlines will cause them to change and as a result - they'll not be able to carry that advantage going forward. That's too bad.

I hope the management realizes what they're advantage is and that they won't change a thing.

To me the two most important things in running a business is keeping your employees happy and keeping your customers happy.

A happy employee makes for an employee that will offer exceptional customer service.

If SWA changes its policies - I feel that customer service will suffer and ultimately that will come back to hurt the employees as well.

Don't change a thing Southwest.

[mountain grammy]

2. Airlines are making money

no reason all employees, down to bag busters, shouldn't be making good wages.

[Cryptoad]

3. Only thing worst than flying a plane

with unhappy pilots is one with that was maintained by unhappy mechanics !