City of Dallas, Texas Nov 1, 2018 (Issuewire.com) - Transport Workers Union (TWU) Local 556, the union that represents Southwest Airlines flight attendants, gave notice to Southwest Airlines executives that the work-group is prepared to enter into the collective bargaining process. Their current contract became amendable November 1st, 2018. All provisions of the union contract are up for renegotiation, including compensation/wages, work rules, retirement, hours of duty, and other significant benefits and quality of life issues. The flight attendants will continue to work under the same bargaining agreement and pay scale until a new contract is negotiated with the company and ratified by union membership.
Southwest Airlines is the world’s largest low-cost carrier and arguably the most successful and profitable airline in history. This success is in part of the flight attendants' commitment to safety and excellent customer service. For decades the flight attendants have been recognized as the most-friendly and hard-working in the aviation industry. These safety professionals staff more than 4,000 daily flights during peak travel season and are a devoted, diverse group of employees who are committed to keeping Southwest Airlines at the top of the industry. The once-only domestic airline is now reaching international destinations and has plans to start service to Hawaii in early 2019. Southwest Airlines has shared plans for continued global growth, longer flights and increasing seating capacity on their newest jets. These expansion plans and changes to their business model will create an even more challenging work environment for its flight attendants.
Lyn Montgomery, president of TWU Local 556, says: “Southwest Airlines has experienced significant growth and expansion. The flight attendants have met the many challenges that have come with this growth. However, these changes have impacted Flight Attendant's quality of life on and off the job. We will be addressing these issues for our members in contract negotiations.”
As aviation’s first responders and the last line of defence, the demands and duties of the job keep rising. Flight attendants at the airline are facing longer days, fatigue, minimal food options, short layovers and on-call status that can last 24 hours a day, up to three days with no breaks. The flight attendants are highly skilled in training that provides them with the confidence to respond to various emergencies from onboard medical situations to security-related issues, keeping Southwest Airlines one of the world's safest airlines.
Transport Workers Union (TWU) Local 556: is the union that represents over 16,000 flight attendants at Southwest Airlines and is based in Dallas, Texas. Our members are diverse, compassionate safety professionals who provide safety and care across the Southwest Airlines system 24/7/365. www.twu556.org.
Media Contact
TWU Local 556 Communication Committee media@twu556.org
