Southwest Airlines has reached a tentative labor agreement with its pilots.<\/p>\n
The agreement-in-principle will be put forward for a vote by the 11,000-plus members of the Southwest Airlines Pilots Association (SWAPA). Balloting will last until Jan. 22.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
The agreement, which would last through December 2028, stipulates an immediate 29% pay raise and a pay rate increase of 50% over the life of the deal.<\/p>\n
“The deal also includes improvements to work rules and flying schedules, better disability coverage, and increases to retirement benefits,” the union said in a press release.\u00a0<\/p>\n
If Southwest pilots approve the agreement, it will end years of negotiations on a contract that first became amendable in September 2020.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The past year has brought new pilot labor agreements at American, Delta, United and other carriers, with raises well in excess of 40%.<\/p>\n