The Southwest Airlines Pilots Association (SWAPA) Board of Directors has made the decision to cancel the 24-hour picket that was previously set for June 15 due to the passing of Captain Richard Jenkins. Jenkins was a member of Southwest’s negotiating team and SWAPA offers our prayers and condolences to his family and fellow team members at this time.
The Southwest Airlines Pilots Association (SWAPA) will be conducting a 24-hour informational picket June 15-16 outside Southwest Airlines’ headquarters starting at 8 a.m. CT.
SWAPA has become increasingly frustrated with Southwest’s lack of commitment to meet during this negotiation cycle. SWAPA leaders have repeatedly requested more frequent bargaining dates in order to reach an agreement, but so far, SWA Labor Relations has committed to just 15 days of negotiations between now and Labor Day.
This 24-hour picket is meant to symbolize that just as Southwest leaders depend on our pilots both day and night, weekday and weekend to get our passengers from point A to point B, we depend on our company to earnestly come to the table — day or night, weekday or weekend — to reward the most productive pilots in the industry. Our pilots stand ready to work and to negotiate any time.
SWAPA and Southwest have been in negotiations for a new contract for more than three years and in federal mediation since September 2022.
Southwest Airlines Pilots Association’s (SWAPA) strike authorization vote has closed after just a week and half with 98% participation and 99% of pilots voting to authorize a strike. This historic vote from the pilot union was scheduled to run through the end of May, but the pilots of Southwest Airlines have already made their voices heard about the operational disasters and the lack of progress after three-plus years of stagnant negotiations. “This is a historic day, not only for our pilots, but for Southwest Airlines,” said SWAPA President Casey Murray. “The lack of leadership and the unwillingness to address the failures of our organization have led us to this point. Our pilots are tired of apologizing to our passengers on behalf of a company that refuses to place its priorities on its internal and external customers.”
Murray continued, “Today, our Pilots have empowered our Negotiating Committee Chair, Captain Jody Reven, to petition the National Mediation Board to release us to self-help imminently at which time we will follow the process set forth by the Railway Labor Act and continue toward a strike. We want our passengers to understand that we do not take this path lightly and are disheartened that the LUV airline has gotten so far away from the values set forth by Herb Kelleher. We want our customers to be prepared for the path ahead and make arrangements on other carriers so that their plans through the summer and fall are not disrupted.”
SWAPA issued this statement:
Voting opened on May 1 in the Southwest Airlines Pilots Association’s (SWAPA) strike authorization vote. This historic vote from the pilot union is taking place in the wake of Southwest’s epic December meltdown and after three years of negotiations with the company. “We have been attempting to negotiate with Southwest in earnest for years, but they have shown no willingness to address some of the issues that impact not only our pilots but our customers as well, such as scheduling work rules and technology improvements. It is essential that we modernize systems and procedures to be able to keep pace with other carriers and give our passengers the level of service they expect,” said SWAPA President Casey Murray. “The lack of discussion or commitment by our leadership team to rectify these issues for our passengers and our pilots are driving us to carry forward on this path afforded to us by the Railway Labor Act.”
The strike authorization vote opened on May 1, and will close May 31 and will ultimately give the pilots the ability to strike once released to self-help. Murray continued, “We believe that this timeframe gives our customers time to book elsewhere, so that they can have confidence that their summer vacations, honeymoons, and family outings are assured.”
While the final vote will not be counted until the end of May, the Association is already seeing strong voter turnout and positive response. Murray stated, “The decision to authorize a strike is not one we have taken lightly, but given the lack of accountability and dearth of leadership exhibited by our current executives, we felt that this was a last resort to try to force them to face the issues plaguing our passengers, our frontline employees, and our pilots.”