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Southwest flight attendants say talks near impasse
Wednesday April 7, 10:28 pm ET
DALLAS, April 7 (Reuters) - Talks between Southwest Airlines (NYSE:LUV - News) and the union that represents attendants at the company may have reaced an impasse, a union letter sent to the low-fare carrier's chief executive said.
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The Transport Workers Union Local 556 sent a letter on Wednesday to Jim Parker, saying the union was willing to return to the bargaining table to discuss a new contract, but the airline appeared to have given up on negotiations.
The airline and the union -- the only major labor group at the airline that has not reached a new contract -- have been in talks for almost two years on a new deal. Federal mediators have also been called in to help with the talks.
"If you are not willing to continue bargaining or believe that further bargaining is futile, we suggest that you request a release from mediation from the National Mediation Board so that we may at last bring this matter to a conclusion," the letter from union president Thom McDaniel said.
The letter was obtained after working hours and a spokesman from Southwest was not immediately available for comment.
The main stumbling block in the talks is pay raises. The flight attendants say the numbers on the table fall short of what they are asking, while airline management calls them their "best" offer.
McDaniel has said the deal broached by the airline about two months ago calls for a total wage increase of 17 percent over six and a half years. The union is looking for increases comparable to what other labor groups reached with the carrier, which McDaniel said ranged between six percent and 7.5 percent per year.
A Southwest spokeswoman has said the carrier disputes the union's figures, saying their proposal is "an industry leading contract and comparable to what other work groups at Southwest have seen, when viewed in its totality".
Wednesday April 7, 10:28 pm ET
DALLAS, April 7 (Reuters) - Talks between Southwest Airlines (NYSE:LUV - News) and the union that represents attendants at the company may have reaced an impasse, a union letter sent to the low-fare carrier's chief executive said.
ADVERTISEMENT
The Transport Workers Union Local 556 sent a letter on Wednesday to Jim Parker, saying the union was willing to return to the bargaining table to discuss a new contract, but the airline appeared to have given up on negotiations.
The airline and the union -- the only major labor group at the airline that has not reached a new contract -- have been in talks for almost two years on a new deal. Federal mediators have also been called in to help with the talks.
"If you are not willing to continue bargaining or believe that further bargaining is futile, we suggest that you request a release from mediation from the National Mediation Board so that we may at last bring this matter to a conclusion," the letter from union president Thom McDaniel said.
The letter was obtained after working hours and a spokesman from Southwest was not immediately available for comment.
The main stumbling block in the talks is pay raises. The flight attendants say the numbers on the table fall short of what they are asking, while airline management calls them their "best" offer.
McDaniel has said the deal broached by the airline about two months ago calls for a total wage increase of 17 percent over six and a half years. The union is looking for increases comparable to what other labor groups reached with the carrier, which McDaniel said ranged between six percent and 7.5 percent per year.
A Southwest spokeswoman has said the carrier disputes the union's figures, saying their proposal is "an industry leading contract and comparable to what other work groups at Southwest have seen, when viewed in its totality".
