Flight attendants at Southwest Airlines have ratified a contract that features pay raises totaling greater than 33% over 4 years, as airline employees proceed to learn from the {industry}’s restoration for the reason that pandemic.
The Transport Staff Union stated Wednesday that members of Native 556 authorized the contract by a margin of 81% to 19%. The union’s board rejected a decrease provide final summer season, and flight attendants voted against a second proposal in December.
Southwest has about 20,000 flight attendants. They’ll get raises of greater than 22% on Might 1 and annual will increase of three% in every of the next three years.
The union stated the contract gives report positive factors for flight attendants and units a normal for different flight attendants. Cabin crews at United Airlines and American Airlines, that are represented by different unions, are nonetheless negotiating contracts.
The union stated the deal offers Southwest crews the shortest on-duty day and highest pay within the {industry}, compensation throughout disruptions just like the Southwest meltdown in December 2022, and industry-first paid maternity and parental depart. Staff can even break up $364 million in ratification bonuses, in line with the union.
Dallas-based Southwest, the nation’s fourth-biggest airline, stated the contract consists of modifications in scheduling and can assist the airline’s operation.
Pilot unions at Delta, United, American and Southwest authorized contracts final yr that raised pay by greater than one-third over a number of years. This week, Delta stated its flight attendants and different nonunion employees will get 5% raises.
