DALLAS, Aug. 19, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Southwest
Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) and the International Association
of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) have reached a Tentative
Agreement for Southwest's more than 5,000 Customer Service
Employees.
"The parties concluded these negotiations with an agreement
designed to reward our hard-working Employees, support future
market expansion for Southwest, and increase our overall
efficiency," said Vice President of Labor Relations Russell McCrady. "We appreciate the work by both
Negotiating Committees, along with the assistance of the National
Mediation Board, to get us to this point."
Composed of the Company's Customer Service Agents, Customer
Representatives, and Source of Support Representatives, these
Employees deliver excellent Customer Service by helping our
Customers get to their destinations, whether that is taking a phone
call to change a Customer's travel plans or assisting a Customer or
fellow Employee on the ground at one of the airports we serve.
The IAM will communicate to its membership the details of the
Tentative Agreement and the ratification process.
ABOUT SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO.
In its
51st year of service, Dallas-based Southwest Airlines
Co. continues to differentiate itself from other
air carriers with exemplary Customer Service delivered by more than
54,000 Employees to a Customer base that topped 130 million
Passengers in 2019. Southwest has a robust network of
point-to-point service with a strong presence across top leisure
and business markets. In peak travel seasons during 2019, Southwest
operated more than 4,000 weekday departures among a network of 101
destinations in the United States
and 10 additional countries. In 2020, the carrier added service to
Hilo, Hawaii; Cozumel, Mexico; Miami; Palm Springs,
Calif.; Steamboat Springs; and Montrose (Telluride), Colo. Thus far in 2021,
Southwest has initiated service to Chicago (O'Hare) and Sarasota/Bradenton both on Feb.
14; Savannah/Hilton Head and
Colorado Springs both on March 11;
Houston (Bush) and Santa Barbara, Calif. both on April 12; Fresno,
Calif. on April
25; Destin/Fort Walton Beach on May
6; Myrtle Beach, S.C. on May
23; Bozeman, Mont. on
May 27; and Jackson, Miss. on June 6;
and will begin service to Eugene,
Ore. on Aug. 29; Bellingham, Wash. on Nov. 7; and Syracuse on Nov. 14.
The carrier issued its Southwest® Promise in
May 2020 to highlight new and
round-the-clock efforts to support its Customers
and Employees well-being and comfort. Among the changes
are enhanced cleaning efforts at airports and onboard aircraft,
along with a federal mandate requiring every person to wear a
mask at all times throughout each flight. Additional details
about the Southwest Promise are available
at Southwest.com/Promise.
Southwest coined Transfarency® to describe its
purposed philosophy of treating Customers honestly and fairly, and
low fares actually staying low. Southwest is the only
major U.S. airline to offer bags fly free® to everyone (first and
second checked pieces of luggage, size and weight limits apply,
some carriers offer free checked bags on select routes or in
qualified circumstances). Southwest does not charge change fees,
though fare differences might apply.
Southwest is one of the most honored airlines in the world,
known for a triple bottom line approach that contributes to the
carrier's performance and productivity, the importance of
its People and the communities they serve, and an overall
commitment to efficiency and the planet. Learn more about how the
carrier gives back to communities across the world by
visiting Southwest.com/citizenship.
Book Southwest Airlines' low fares online at
Southwest.com or by phone at
800-I-FLY-SWA®.
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SOURCE Southwest Airlines Co.