Pilots' union sues Southwest over adjustments made in pandemic

DALLAS (AP) — The pilots' union is suing Southwest airlines, asserting that rules the airline put into area earlier than and all through the pandemic have modified pay rates and dealing rules, in violation of federal labor legislations.

The union says any adjustments that affect pay or working circumstances need to be negotiated, but that Southwest has made unilateral adjustments even whereas both aspects are at the bargaining table.

The Southwest airlines Pilots affiliation, or SWAPA, filed the lawsuit Monday in federal district court docket in Dallas, the place Southwest is based mostly.

Southwest has been forced to respond to "unpredictable challenges" all through the pandemic, mentioned Russell McCrady, the airline's vice president of labor relations.

"The airline disagrees with SWAPA's claims that any COVID-connected adjustments over the past few months required negotiation," he talked about.

Southwest has enjoyed superior administration-labor family members than other significant U.S. airlines, and it boasts of by no means furloughing an employee. besides the fact that children, the lawsuit is the latest facts of the carrier's more and more strained relationship with unions, which represent eighty three% of its fifty six,000 employees.

Southwest — like its rivals — paid incentives for hundreds of employees to give up remaining 12 months, best to be caught short when go back and forth picked up this summer time. Unions for frontline employees together with pilots and flight attendants have blamed administration for a lot of delayed and canceled flights.

The pilots' union is on the grounds that airing its grievances by way of picketing at airports later this 12 months.

the two facets begun negotiating over a new contract in January 2020.