TWU Local 556 Negotiating Committee Update #34

Your Negotiating Committee took your voice to the table again in a meeting with the Company on October 27. This was another follow-up discussion on the Company’s request for concessions and the threat of furloughs, and to keep demanding answers for the Members of TWU Local 556.

30-second summary:

• Standing firm that concessions to your hard-earned CBA are not the answer to the Company’s need for cost savings, your Union came prepared to discuss the multiple voluntary programs the Union outlined in the last meeting.
• The Company made it clear that it was requiring “certainty” in knowing the numbers of Members who would elect to take voluntary programs, if offered again, before the Company could commit to a promise of no furloughs.
• Meanwhile, the Company was unable to answer, with any level of certainty, questions about whether WARN Act notices would be sent to Members, when that might take place, or how many Flight Attendants would receive them, nor could the Company say what the cost of potential furloughs might be to Southwest Airlines. The Company did not provide a stand-alone proposal regarding its onboard sales program that the Union had requested previously.
• The Company said that “just because we send out WARN Act notices doesn’t mean we are going to furlough.” Your Union said that doing so would be an “act of divisiveness.”
• Your Negotiating Team believes that the Company will continue through the process of issuing notices of potential furloughs as required by the WARN Act, even if those notices are not followed by furloughs.
• Your Union will continue to seek answers from the Company on what is needed to meet cost-savings targets through voluntary leave programs, and will continue to evaluate non-concessionary cost saving measures and propose those to the Company.
• The next meeting with the Company is scheduled for November 6.

Full Recap:

Your Union went back to the table with the Company on October 27 to continue discussion on the Company’s request for concessions amidst its ongoing threat of furloughs. In trying to achieve clarity on the Company’s financial and operational goals, and on how Flight Attendants’ contributions have been valued, the Union repeatedly demanded answers for you, its Members. 

The Company was clear that it required “certainty” in regard to Members’ potential participation in the voluntary programs the Union proposed as a way to avoid pay cuts and furloughs. Meanwhile, the Company was unable to answer with any level of certainty questions from the Union including:

• Will notices of furlough, as required by the WARN Act, be issued to Flight Attendants?
• How many Flight Attendants would receive WARN Act Notices?
• Has the Company determined the cost of potential furloughs?
• What would an onboard sales program look like, and what would Flight Attendants be required to do for the program?

Your Union made it clear that January 1, 2021, is an arbitrary, self-imposed deadline set by the Company, one that the Union feels has no significance other than to cause divisiveness and fear among Members. The Company said in the meeting that “just because we send out WARN Act notices doesn’t mean we are going to furlough.” Your Negotiating Team believes that the Company will continue through the process of issuing notices of potential furloughs as required by the WARN Act, even if those notices are not followed by furloughs.

Decisions based on a lack of facts and relevant information would be premature, so your Union will continue to seek answers from the Company on what is actually needed to meet cost-savings targets through voluntary leave programs. The Union again stressed that voluntary programs allow Flight Attendants to do what they have always done best—support the mission of Southwest Airlines—as they choose how to do so in a way that makes sense for them. Flight Attendants will rise to the challenge with transparency from the Company and a clear target to hit. 

After discussing the voluntary program options presented by the Union, the Company indicated its interest in exploring those options further. Therefore, your NT will continue to evaluate those non-concessionary cost saving measures and propose those concepts to the Company. The next meeting is scheduled for November 6.