Southwest, pilots union close to a preliminary labor deal

Southwest Airlines and its pilots union are closing in on a brand new contract that will increase pay for the provider’s greater than 11,000 aviators and finish months of contentious negotiations, weeks forward of the essential vacation journey season.

The corporate and the union have agreed on pay, retirement and different objects however are engaged on an implementation schedule, the Southwest Airways Pilots Affiliation mentioned in a message to its members on Thursday.

Delta Air Lines, United Airlines and American Airlines have already finalized multibillion-dollar labor agreements with pilots this 12 months as unions pushed for pay hikes, higher scheduling and different enhancements after the Covid pandemic derailed contract talks.

If a preliminary settlement is accepted by the Southwest pilots union board within the coming weeks, it might then go to the pilots for a ratification vote.

The union and the airline declined to offer specifics of the deal.

Southwest and the union “are working hard to close out the few remaining items,” an airline spokesman informed CNBC. “Southwest remains committed to reaching an agreement that rewards our Pilots and places them competitively in the industry.”

Southwest reached a preliminary agreement with its flight attendants union earlier this fall that features 36% pay will increase for cabin crew members.

A labor deal between the corporate and its pilots would finish a interval of tense negotiations, which lately included laying groundwork for a potential strike, although strikes are extraordinarily uncommon within the airline business.

It could additionally grow to be the most recent in a string of big labor deals this 12 months, together with agreements between Hollywood studios and actors, and the studios and writers, in addition to between automakers and the United Auto Employees union, following strikes.