TWU Local 556 Negotiation Update #21

Your Negotiating Committee met with the Company for a three-day session this week on February 4–6. 

Day One:
On the first day of this session, your Team presented multiple proposals, including Article 29: Domiciles and Article 35: Hotel Standards. Additionally, your Negotiating Team implored the Company to reconsider its misguided decision to table discussions related to Article 25: Health, Safety and Security. We raised this issue again based on the litany of safety related events currently plaguing our Company, including issues related to the coronavirus and the recent Wall Street Journal article entitled “Southwest Flew Millions on Jets with Unconfirmed Maintenance Records, Government Report Says,” which detailed an impending Department of Transportation (DOT), Office of Inspector General (OIG) report, following an 18-month investigation. Unfortunately, the Company failed to share our concerns and resisted our attempt to continue this discussion.

The Company provided your Team a presentation on its Paid Time Off (PTO) program applicable to non-contract employees and asked if we were interested. However, they did not provide details on how it would apply to our workgroup. In addition, the Company presented proposals on Article 8: Hours of Service, Article 9: Additional Flying and Article 12: Exchange of Trips. These Articles presented by the Company contained edits related to the new 10-hour rest rule along with additional changes similar to those included in its comprehensive proposal. We are currently reviewing these proposals.

Day Two:
Your Negotiating Team presented a proposal on Article 27: General – Union Information. The Company received our proposal but did not present any proposals of its own. Your Team spent the remainder of the day in caucus evaluating the Company’s proposals and preparing additional counters. The parties also agreed the Preamble and Article 4: Status of Agreement would remain “at book,” meaning no changes to those Articles from the current Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).

Day Three:
The parties reconvened in the afternoon. The Company presented counterproposals to our passes on Article 27: General – Union Information and Article 29: Domiciles, as well as presenting a proposal on Article 11: Reserve. At the end of the day, we reached a tentative agreement on Article 27: General – Union Information. 
 
The parties continue to make progress at the table. However, your Negotiating Team is concerned the Company is focused more on satisfying its artificial deadline of having all of its proposals on the table by March, as opposed to engaging in meaningful negotiations over the Articles previously passed.

The next bargaining session is scheduled for February 25–27.

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.