TWU Local 556 Negotiating Committee Update #67

The TWU Local 556 Negotiating Committee met with the Company in a series of negotiating sessions that took place virtually March 7-10, 2023.

It’s important for Members to understand that the public pressure that the Flight Attendants of Southwest Airlines has put on the Company is clearly working: The tone at the negotiating table has shifted, and the Company seems both more receptive to ideas and more motivated to accomplish progress, with responses being returned in a more intention and timely manner.

This allowed the Negotiating Committee and the Company to reach tentative agreements on Article 10, which governs scheduling/bidding, and Article 12, which governs exchange of trips – two articles that have far-reaching impact across Flight Attendants of all seniorities. Improvements to these articles include:

• • Article 10: Increasing the amount a Flight Attendant can draw from their sick bank during a leave of absence, improving secondary bidding timelines, incorporating RT bidding timelines, and adding a contractual ability for Flight Attendants to pre-board while deadheading.
  • Article 12: Automating the jetway trade procedures, maintaining unlimited trip trading, incorporating settlement letters, and moving up the timeframe for out-of-base pickups.

Your Negotiating Committee warns that progress must continue at this pace to get Members a new Contract that is so badly needed. While the articles on which the parties have reached a Tentative Agreement are milestones in the journey, all are absent agreement on the economic touchpoints, including compensation, attached to them. These will be negotiated in subsequent sessions. Members must understand how important continuous shows of solidarity are to ongoing negotiations with the Company as discussions like these are held.

To help Members understand their impact on negotiations and to educate on progress made at the table, the Negotiating Committee has scheduled a live webcast for Thursday, April 13, at 1300 CT. Through this interactive session, Members will hear directly from the Negotiating Committee to understand what’s happening in mediation now, including the Company’s recent VJA proposal, extension of duty day discussions, and more. The Negotiating Committee will share what details they can in an effort to keep Members apprised of significant developments in negotiations and issues that are still outstanding on this journey toward a new Contract. Registration for that event will be available soon.

It’s Members’ Unity that is achieving movement. Please keep applying the pressure by standing with your Union.

The views contained herein do not necessarily represent those of TWU Local 556 or TWU International. The purpose of this email communication is intended only to educate and inform TWU Local 556 Members. It is not intended to officially establish or clarify past practice, Contract language, or grievance/arbitration positions. It is therefore not to be utilized or relied upon by any person or party as evidence of the Union’s position on any past practices, Contract language, grievances/arbitrations, or any other disputes or issues between TWU Local 556 and Southwest Airlines.