The Southwest Airlines Pilots Association (SWAPA) had their request to pause contract talks with the airline denied by the National Mediation Board (NMB) this week, which means negotiations will continue in Denver, Colorado next week. This comes after over three years of negotiations, with SWAPA becoming increasingly frustrated with Southwest’s lack of commitment and slow progress. SWAPA had asked to be released from mediation, believing that further negotiations would not result in any additional agreements, but the NMB ruled otherwise. SWAPA’s concerns include pilot fatigue, compensation, and quality of life provisions. Pilot strikes are rare, with the last one occurring back in 2010 at Spirit Airlines. The NMB and Congress work to prevent work stoppages from disrupting the airline industry, and just recently, American Airlines reached a tentative contract deal with its pilots, following the terms set by Delta Air Lines and United Airlines. The agreement will be voted on by American Airlines pilots later this month.
Denied: Southwest Pilots’ Request for Negotiation Halt Rejected
