Southwest Airways, pilots union attain labor deal

Southwest Airlines and its pilots’ union have reached a brand new preliminary labor settlement, ending months of tense negotiations and changing into the final of the most important U.S. airways to strike a deal that’s set to provide aviators large raises.

The five-year deal is value about $12 billion, Casey Murray, president of the Southwest Airways Pilots Affiliation, informed CNBC on Tuesday. The union did not instantly present particulars about pilot pay will increase.

The corporate’s pilots might want to approve the preliminary contract. CNBC reported earlier this month that the 2 sides have been near a deal.

American, United and Delta pilots finalized offers earlier this yr that have been value billions and gave aviators double-digit pay hikes. The Covid-19 pandemic derailed negotiations throughout the business.

As journey demand snapped again, pilots, flight attendants and different aviation employees have pushed for not simply greater pay, but additionally higher working circumstances akin to extra predictable schedules.

Labor unions have flexed their energy all year long, yielding a string of big labor deals together with agreements between Hollywood studios and actors, and the studios and writers, in addition to between automakers and the United Auto Employees union. These agreements followed prolonged strikes.

That is breaking information. Test again for updates.