Summary
- Southwest Airlines pilots proceed to demand a contract through informational picketing, despite the National Mediation Board denying their request to strike.
- Concerns include pilot scheduling issues, akin to pilot deadheading and fatigue, in addition to the withdrawal of agreements in principle by Southwest Airlines management.
- Southwest Airlines is facing criticism for its outdated tech system, declining return on investment, and questions on its culture and future, as reflected in worker picketing and downgrading of its stock by investment firms.
Southwest Airlines continues to be in difficult relations with its pilots and flight attendants. While the airline is holding a spirit party on August 14, the pilots’ union might be informational picketing outside to demand a contract.
Pilots picketing to point out regular resolve
Despite ongoing negotiations with Southwest Airlines and the National Mediation Board (NMB) denying the pilot’s union Southwest Airlines Pilots Association (SWAPA) a release from mediated negotiations to strike, SWAPA stays focused on working towards a contract. Upon the airline losing 200 pilots this 12 months but with 1,269 pilots hired for a loss percentage of 15.76%, SWAPA placed on social media the next infographic:
Amongst other concerns shouldn’t be just the lack of pilots and revenue to SWAPA, but additionally pilot schedule disruptions. Regular Easy Flying readers know structural issues in SWAPA pilot scheduling, akin to pilot deadheading – or pilots on duty flying Southwest Airlines as a passenger, and pilot fatigue persist.
Nevertheless, Southwest Airlines has not announced dramatic scheduling software improvements or processes to cut back deadheading. Moreover, the airline seems overly reliant on its Destination 225° pilot creation program for pilot supply.
Photo: Joe Kunzler | Easy Flying
It also appears that Southwest Airlines management on the bargaining table is withdrawing from agreements in principle or AIPs – key landmarks in negotiating a contract. One in all those AIPs withdrawn from is maternity leave.
Maternity leave controversy
Recently, Southwest Airlines’ chief negotiator Carl Kuwitzky withdrew an agreement in principle (AIP) on maternity/paternity leave that improved on circa 1984 language. For SWAPA’s Midway International Airport (MDW) Chair Captain Laurin Toriello, in an open letter, this motion was as an alternative of giving
Fatigue calls rising
In one other ongoing issue, pilot fatigue calls have been rising. In response to SWAPA’s Schedule Research Committee Chair Scott Plyer, on The SWAPA Number podcast;
“We just literally had the best variety of fatigue calls for any month by almost 200. In July, we had 927 fatigue calls. When you consider that, that is over 10% of our pilots who bid a line called in fatigued in July. While you take a look at it each day, one in 100 pilots will call on fatigue on any given day. Is that any option to run your airline where that you simply’re using that circuit breaker time and again on such an everyday basis. It’s horrifying and admittedly, it’s quite scary.”
The fatigue issue has led to pilots being reassigned and getting home late. Moreover, the brand new fatigue records for Southwest Airlines’s operation are fanning the flames of upset SWAPA members.
Why the picketing
As SWAPA President Casey Murray said in an August 2022 SWAPA Number Podcast episode, the needs of SWAPA informational pickets is to face with offended customers, stand with other Southwest Airlines worker groups, and pressure Southwest Airlines to supply its pilots with Murray also said that pickets help address management’s “lack of motivation to get a contract done.”
Planning more activism
As if the August 14 picket – which may even see the flight attendants union picketing – was insufficient labor activism by SWAPA, there may be a plan for SWAPA to carry an August 31, 2023, multi-base informational picket at Atlanta, Baltimore, Houston, Los Angeles, and Chicago’s Midway. SWAPA’s intent is to attract attention to the three-year mark because the current contract was amendable.
Southwest Airlines canceled some 900 flights over the weekend. Photo: Vincenzo Pace/Easy Flying
Southwest Airlines
- IATA/ICAO Code:
- WN/SWA
- Airline Type:
- Low-Cost Carrier
- Hub(s):
- Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, Dallas Love Field, Denver International Airport, Harry Reid International Airport, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Houston Hobby Airport, Los Angeles International Airport, Midway International Airport, Oakland International Airport, Orlando International Airport, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport
- Yr Founded:
- 1967
- CEO:
- Robert Jordan
- Country:
- United States