Southwest Airlines has announced that its Flight Instructors have approved the tentative agreement that was reached with Union negotiators in late January. Transport Workers Union (TWU) Local 557 reports that 68 percent of those who cast ballots voted in favor of the four-year contract.
"I applaud the work of the negotiating teams and the leadership displayed throughout the process," said Southwest Airlines Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Mike Van de Ven. "This agreement recognizes the significant contributions of our Flight Instructors and delivers needed flexibility to support Southwest's expanding network."
The Contract contains across-the-board pay raises, bonus opportunities, and mutually beneficial work-rule changes that meet the needs of the Instructors and the Company.
The newly ratified contract becomes amendable December 31, 2019.
Now Southwest Airlines management will need to turn their attention to add the 737Max to the current contract between the airline and its pilots. Southwest claims the new aircraft is just like others in the existing contract except for an updated engine, and doesn’t have to be specifically named. But, the Southwest Airlines Pilots Association disagrees and says a new contract needs to be agreed. “They cannot fly the Max without a new contract,” said Jon Weaks, the union’s president.
Talks are scheduled to resume on March 22. Southwest will be the first airline to receive the Max aircraft in Q3 2017 although Boeing says it may be delivered early.
A new contract has been under negotiated for more than three years. The existing contract from 2012 remains in effect until a new one can be agreed.