Southwest Airlines and the Transport Workers Union Local 550 have come to terms on a tentative agreement for the airline’s approximately 450 dispatch workers.
“This agreement rewards our dispatch employees for their many contributions while also supporting the needs of our business,” said Adam Carlisle, vice president labour relations at Southwest Airlines.
“This agreement brings our members industry-leading pay, quality of life improvements, and work rules that benefit our members and help maintain Southwest’s competitive edge in the industry," said Brian Brown, president of the TWU 550.
Dispatch workers are to vote on the deal, the terms of which were not announced. While the announcement came days after a similar statement covering mechanics and flight instructors, the carrier's pilots have in the meantime threatened to go on strike after the cancelling of over 16,000 flights in late December.