Southwest Airlines’ dispatchers and facilities maintenance technicians have voted to back new collective bargaining agreements.
“We have now ratified agreements with five of our union-represented workgroups within the past four months,” said Adam Carlisle, Southwest vice president.
“Our dispatch employees provide immense value to our organisation, and this new collective bargaining agreement will give them industry-competitive pay and several quality of life enhancements, while also adding work rule efficiencies for Southwest,” said Carlisle.
This deal covers Southwest's approximately 450 flight dispatchers, assistant dispatchers, flight superintendents, dispatch specialists and dispatch ATC specialists.
Around 50 facilities maintenance technicians, represented by Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA) "overwhelmingly" voted for their new contracts, Southwest added.
The workers do a "great job maintaining our Southwest facilities across the system, and I am pleased we’re able to recognise their work with a new contract that offers pay increases and quality of life enhancements,” said Carlisle.